SF 405 
.S6 H6 
Copy 1 








Ji^M^WV^KJ^Hf^Br. ~«&' r> j 






Class : _ 

Book 

GopyrightN? 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSfT 



Skunk Culture for Profit 




Playmates 



SKUNK CULTURE 

FOR 

PROFIT 



BY 
F. M. HOLBROOK 



PUBLISHED 

BY THE 

SKUNK DEVELOPMENT BUREAU 

CHICAGO, ILL., U. S. A. 



Price: One Dollar flexible binding, $1.25 cloth bound, 

Postpaid in the United States, Canada and Europe. 



^,v 

^ 



Copyright, 1915, 

by 

F. M. HOLBROOK 



CI/A40G667 



JUL 12 J0I5 



Dedication 



To the memory of 

Mr. Starr H. Thomson 

who more than twenty years ago 
afforded the facilities and encourage- 
ment which made possible the author's 
original investigations, this treatise is 
gratefully dedicated. 



Acknowledgement 



While the author has endeavored to draw the ma- 
terial for this book largely from his personal experi- 
ence, he wishes to express his thanks and his indebted- 
ness to the many breeders who have from year to year 
generously reported their experiences to him; to 
Dr. J. A. Detlefsen, Professor of Genetics, College of 
Agriculture, University of Illinois, for valuable sug- 
gestions on the breeding of skunks ; to Dr. Bert Frank- 
lin (D. V. M.), of Chicago, for assistance over many 
years in the treatment and prevention of diseases; tc 
the Bureau of Biological Survey of the United States 
Department of Agriculture in relation to the sys- 
tematic classification of skunks, and to the influence 
of the writings of Dr. C. Hart Merriam and of Mr. 
Ernest Thompson Seton. 



Contents 



PAGE 

Frontispiece . 4 

Dedication :..... 7 

Acknowledgment 8 

Preface 10 

Introduction 11 

Chapters : 

1. Fur-Farming 21 

2. Habits and Economics 25 

3. Classification 32 

4. Selection of Location 39 

5. Range and Yard Fences 41 

6. Breeding Pens 49 

7. Dens 54 

8. Stocking the Ranch 57 

9. Feeding 60 

10. Management of Young and Old 64 

11. Breeding — Simple and Advanced 72 

12. Marking and Pedigree 76 

13. Disarming 81 

14. Diseases 89 

15. Killing, Skinning, Marketing 97 

16. Shipping Live Skunks 101 

17. Skunks as Pets 105 

18. A Letter from Canada Ill 

19. Exhibiting 114 

Breeders' Announcements 120 

Breeder's Memoranda 141 



Preface 



In selecting for the present book the title of 
"Skunk Culture for Profit," the writer has done so 
in the broad sense and has not solely in mind the finan- 
cial return, although that is perhaps the usual motive. 

"Skunk Culture for Profit" will deal with the sub- 
ject from economic, practical and aesthetic points of 
view. Primarily it will treat of the methods neces- 
sary to breed, handle and raise the skunk successfully 
rather than enter into details of finance. 

It is no more possible to predict what profit a per- 
son will make in raising skunks than the profit he 
would make in raising poultry. The results are de- 
pendent largely on the individual. 



in 



Introduction 



The present volume is the direct result of the many requests 
received by the author for reference to some book treating inti- 
mately and accurately the subject of breeding and caring for 
skunks. To supply this demand for practical information 
Skunk Culture for Profit is offered to the public. 

When the author first began his investigations twenty-one 
years ago skunk farms had even then been occasionally re- 
ported, but the methods employed had been crude and errone- 
ous, due to the lack of knowledge on the subject. Further- 
more, the raising of skunks was then held in ill-repute, as the 
removal of the anal glands or scent sacs was not understood 
or practiced by breeders. 

The careful study devoted to the subject has made possible 
the successes of more recent years, and as time goes on our 
knowledge should still further increase, for the industry, 
while not perhaps still in its infancy, certainly is yet young 
and problems will still remain for individual breeders to solve. 
In fact, each breeder will have different conditions of land 
and location, affecting food supply and other elements, and 
will have his own details to work out aside from the general 
principles which all must observe. 

As fitting material for the introduction to the subject- 
matter of this book, and as indicating not only the scope of 
the author's own work, but also the general interest and 
activity in this young industry, the author will quote in full 
his report to the United States Department of Agriculture, 
Bureau of Biological Survey, Washington, D. C, under date 
of February 23, 1915. 

The report follows : 

11 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



To the Agriculturist: 

. GWBS. BSEUfS 0»«55 MOPrt( 




To the Fur Farmer To the Lover of An 

Breeding Stations near Chicago and Other Points in the United States 

SKUNK 

DEVELOPMENT 

BUREAU 

\ Box 554 

Chicago, 111. Feb. 23, 1915. 




United States Department of Agriculture, 
Bureau of Biological Survey, 
Washington, D. C. 

Dear Sirs : — 

In reply to your letter of the 17th inst, addressed to the 
writer at his home at Lombard, 111., and asking for a state- 
ment covering what he has done, and is now doing, with fur 
animals, he is pleased to report, as follows : 

During the summer vacation of 1894, between the writer's 
freshman and sophomore years at the School of Mines, Colum- 
bia University, he was engaged in survey work in connection 
with hydraulic engineering in northern New York State and 
was able to take up and carry to successful conclusion some 
research work tending toward the domestication of the skunk 
(Mephitis mephitica). 

His desire for some years previous had been to demonstrate 
that the skunk was really quite ' ' innoxious ' ' and on the whole 
worthy of a place in public esteem. 

In order that the skunk might be properly introduced into 
society, it was necessary to make it absolutely safe to handle, 
and therefore he studied the system of the anal glands with 
vieAV to their excision and made sections of dead specimens. 
The operation then devised by him was entirely successful in 
connection with the first live subject. In all, seven or eight 
skunks were made ' ' scentless ' ' by the writer during that sum- 



12 



INTRODUCTION 



mer. He had not then heard of the experiment of Warren or 
those of Merriam later, and therefore his work was original al- 
though the results were antedated. 

What the writer further did was to work out the complete 
technique not only for the operation itself, but also for han- 
dling the skunk previous to and throughout the operation, so 
that no scent would be liberated, and without the necessity of 
an anaesthetic. This technique is embodied in popular form in 
the accompanying booklet, entitled "Directions for Removing 
the Scent Sacs from Live Skunks Without Spilling Any Scent 
Fluid," and embodied as part of this report. In no case, 
among the hundreds of skunks on which the writer has oper- 
ated, has a single one been lost in consequence of the operation. 

In September of the same year (1894), the writer exhibited 
at the Jefferson County Fair at Watertown, N. Y., a pair of 
these skunks to the amazement, but more especially to the 
education, of the visiting public. (See file of Watertown 
Times, Sept. 20, 1894.) The Jefferson County Agricultural 
Society, for this exhibit, awarded the writer its "Diploma," 
reading "to Frederick Montgomery Holbrook, of Brooklyn, 
N. Y., for the Unprecedented Exhibit of a Pair of Skunks." 
This was the highest encomium at the Society 's disposal and is 
still a highly prized trophy of the writer. (See accompanying 
reproduction. ) 

The very first live skunk on which the writer operated was 
kept by him about two years at his home in Brooklyn, and sub- 
sequently two or three years more by Prof. Daggett, also of 
Brooklyn, N. Y. 

The next summer (1895) the writer prepared five more 
skunks with the express purpose of making a gift of them to 
the Menagerie in Central Park, New York City, but those in 
authority were unappreciative and refused to accept the gift, 
so unprepared was sentiment at that time. The public thus 
lost an early opportunity to become acquainted with the skunk. 

The removal of the scent sacs does not appear to interfere 
with the fertility of the skunk, or with the comfort and happi- 
ness, or in the quality of the fur coat produced. 

13 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 




s 

bfi 

O 
o 

x> 



14 



INTRODUCTION 



While the writer's work has been in the field of electrical 
engineering, he has never lost interest and has more and more 
applied his attention to the possibilities of breeding the skunk 
for fur in view of the steadily decreasing natural supply of 
this important commodity. The fur of the skunk stands high 
in the market under the trade names of ' ' Black Marten ' ' and 
"Alaska Sable," and now the public is coming to prize it 
more and more under its own name of ' ' Skunk, " as it possesses 
the qualities of warmth, durability and beauty. 

In 1911 the writer conceived the idea of producing and dis- 
tributing fine breeding stock and of disseminating knowledge 
of the handling and breeding of the skunk for its fur, and for 
these purposes established the Skunk Development Bureau, 
with Chicago, 111., as mail address, and with breeding station 
at Glencoe, 111., a suburb of Chicago. 

In 1913 it was necessary to transfer the breeding station to v 
Lombard, 111., also a suburb of Chicago, in order to have en- 
larged facilities, as the demand for high-grade breeding stock 
was rapidly increasing. 

The project has been successful, with receipts to date of 
$5,935.66. Of this the amount received for breeding stock 
was $5,127.76. 

The interest, as shown in breeding stock sold, may be ana- 
lyzed by localities supplied, as follows : 

United States — 

State Number of Head 

California 5 

Colorado 6 

Idaho 2 

Illinois . 15 

Indiana 2 

Iowa 14 

Kansas 1 

Massachusetts 5 

Michigan 8 

Minnesota 8 

15 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR 1110 FIT 



Number of Head 

Nebraska 8 

New Hampshire 5 

New York 3 

Ohio 4 

Oklahoma 1 

Oregon 4 

Pennsylvania 5 

S. Dakota 4 

Virginia 1 

Washington 7 

W. Virginia 1 

Wisconsin A 14 

Wyoming 14 

137 

Canada — 

New Brunswick 59 

Nova Scotia 108 

Prince Edward Island 63 

230 

Great Britain — 

England 12 12 

Total 379 

In connection with the stock sold for England, the Skunk 
Development Bureau wishes to extend its appreciation to the 
United States Department of Agriculture as it was their refer- 
ence of the inquirer which resulted in the negotiation. 

The distribution of interest is still further indicated by 
the number of complete sets of surgical instruments for re- 
moving scent sacs shipped to parties located in states as 
follows : 
United States — 

State Sets of Instruments 

Alabama 1 

Arizona 

Arkansas 1 

16 



INTRODUCTION 



State Sets of Instruments 

California 1 

Colorado 2 

Connecticut 3 

Delaware 

Florida 1 

Georgia 1 

Idaho 

Illinois 7 

Indiana 9 

Iowa 5 

Kansas 2 

Louisiana 

Maine 3 

Maryland 

Massachusetts 6 

Michigan 4 

Minnesota 17 

Mississippi 1 

Missouri 1 

Montana 

Nebraska 6 

Nevada 

New Jersey 1 

New Mexico 

New York 4 

North Carolina 

North Dakota 6 

New Hampshire 3 

Ohio 14 

Oklahoma 2 

Oregon 1 

Pennsylvania 11 

Rhode Island 2 

South Carolina 

South Dakota 1 

Tennessee 4 



17 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



Sets of Instruments 

Texas 2 

Vermont 1 

Virginia 

Washington 2 

West Virginia 1 

Wisconsin 8 

Wyoming 1 

135 

Canada — 

Alberta 2 

New Brunswick 1 

Nova Scotia 7 

Ontario 4 

Quebec 1 15 

Total 150 

The Skunk Development Bureau has distributed free gen- 
eral data to over 1,500 applicants, and has in addition fur- 
nished its manual on removing the scent sacs to 830 of these 
same interested parties, the total volume of correspondence 
dispatched amounting to somewhat over 5,000 letters in 
handling the work. 

The Bureau has established sub-stations for breeding in 
some of the states in order to more rapidly meet the demands 
for breeding stock. The mating and pedigree chart has been 
devised to meet definite needs of all breeders and is distributed 
free to all breeders who desire it in any quantities for its in- 
tended use. See specimen copy. 

The scheme of marking the skunks for identification, the 
system of number designation, the division of all skunks into 
eight general grades : AAA, AA, A, B, C, D, DD, and DDD, 
and the circular or target form of genealogical diagram, are 
the original work of the writer. 

The Bureau has not yet been able to obtain a grade AAA 
(completely black) skunk, although it has encountered many 

18 











INTRODUCTION 












n 

■n 
-n Co 

o H 

2 • 




o 
















o 




o i. 




> 




















< ° 




c 












s 


f 


o 




-1 * 

> - 

33 ^ 


CD 
-< 


X 






o 




2 


m 


! 

m 


2 


^ 


■4. 


"H 


H 






GO 

H 


> 


> 

r 


X 

H 


30 

o 


2 


© 

o 




rn 


X 




5D 


> 


m 


m 


CD 


m 
O 


o 


H 


CD 
X> 


a 

m 

X> 


rn 


m 

> 


H 
> 


X 
3D 


-< 

o 


> 

z 

D 


K 


r - 
-< 


z 


i-h 


O 




> 


H 


2 


X 


d 




m 






O 


o 


o 


X 


^ 


o 


z 


~n 


T) 


rn 




c 2 # 
5' 
» 

o 

S5 


< 

z 


7\ 

I 

o 


rn 

o 

> 

z 

O 
PI 


> 

H 

n 

H 
o 


o 
r~ 
r~ 

o 


H 

X 

o 
Z 

CO 

o 


<-< 

cz 


m 

> 
r 
n 


H 

o 
> 


50 

m 

~D 

o 


Co 

a 
z 




z 


r~ 

CD 


X 
X 


z 




z 


^> 






m 
o 


x 




7< 


X 


CD 






< 






> 
i 








O 


— 


2 






o 






-i 








o 


H 








z 






i 








;x 


m 


< 






> 






I 





Id 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



swindles and counterfeits based on this ideal grading. The 
Bureau, however, possesses the grade DDD (completely white). 

Grade AA has been found to breed very true to type, and 
this is the grade highly prized for breeding purposes. The 
male, especially, should be grade AA. 

The Skunk Development Bureau is at the present time 
engaged in some specialized w T ork in genetics in co-operation 
with the University of Illinois, dealing with recession and 
dominance in types with reference to the Mendelian theory, 
but it is too early as yet to announce results. Since research 
has never before been conducted along these lines in connection 
with the skunk, the results should be attended with consider- 
able interest. 

In closing, the writer encloses further data which the 
Bureau distributes free of charge. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Skunk Development Bureau. 

F. M. Holbrook, 
JJ/H Manager. 

Enclosures : 
Exhibit A — Photo Circular 
' ' B — Circular Letter 

C — Reproduction of Diploma 
D— " " Placard 

" E — Directions for Removing Scent Sacs 
' ' ¥ — Skunk Mating and Pedigree Chart 



20 



CHAPTER I 
Fur-Farming 

The subject of fur-farming is usually regarded as new and 
as referring to some quite recently conceived practice. 

Fur-farming means the raising of fur-bearing animals 
under domestic conditions for their fur. But this is not new, 
and for thousands of years we know that man has raised sheep 
and certain other animals in a high degree of domesticatioii 
and used their pelts. 

It may surprise some readers to know that the common 
house cat produces a pelt of good fur and is listed in the quo- 
tations of raw fur buyers. 

But more particularly the term fur-farming is used at the 
present time to mean the raising of our so-called wild animals 
in a state of captivity and at least of partial domestication. 
As a matter of fact, timidity rapidly disappears under proper 
confinement and regular care in the case of most species. 

The rapid decrease in the natural or wild supply of fur by 
close trapping and clearing of forests has afforded the stimulus 
which fur-farming has received in the last few years. 

The greatest amount of work has thus far been done with 
black or silver fox, skunk and mink, although marten, otter, 
fisher, raccoon, opossum, red and gray foxes and musk-rats 
have also received attention. 

In 1914 over $10,000,000 was invested according to the 
Consular reports in the fox industry in the maritime provinces 
of Canada. Fine black breeding foxes brought from $10,000 
to $20,000 per pair, and even higher. Skins have sold from 
$500 to $2,000 each. 

21 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



The high cost of breeding stock has made the raising of 
black foxes prohibitive for most people who would like to 
propagate fur bearers. The majority have therefore turned 
to the skunk as the most available animal and as one that 
produces a pelt of excellent fur, and it is stating the case 
mildly to say that at the present time the breeders of the skunk 
outnumber those of all other animals which have of late years 
been appropriated to this purpose. 

For several years fine prime black skunk skins have been 
bringing from $4.00 to $6.00 each in the raw state; that is, 




Skunk Fur "Goi 



merely stretched and dried. Fine muff and boa sets of skunk 
are sold at retail often as high as $150 to $200. It is therefore 
apparent that the market for staple furs is on the whole quite 
dependable, for in producing fur the breeder is adding to 
human wealth and welfare. Fur has, as far back as history 
records, been in great demand as clothing, which is considered 
hardly less important than food. 

The black skunk fur is the most highly prized at the present 
time and brings the highest prices, but of late long, even stripes 

22 



FUR FARMING 



have been made up in beautiful effects and it is possible that 
they may come into favor. It is hard to change established 
fashion, for few people are willing to "break the ice" and 
most of us are willing to follow the mandate of Alexander 
Pope in his ' ' Essay on Criticism ' ' : 

' ' In words, as fashions, the same rule will hold ; 

Alike fantastic, if too new, or old : 

Be not the first by whom the new are tried, 

Nor yet the last to lay the old aside. ' ' 
It may be safely said that no good skunk fur, whether 
black or white, is wasted. The white stripes are usually cut 
from the skins, sewed together and dyed and sold in the 
cheaper markets. 

The problem before the fur-farmer is, therefore, to produce 
the color, texture and other qualities most desired, and a 
work on fur-farming must show how the result is to be most 
successfully attained. 

The present book has really a wider scope than fur-farming, 
for Skunk Culture includes not only the raising of skunks 
to kill for fur, but also the raising of skunks to sell as live 
stock. Thus a breeder need not necessarily kill at all for the 
fur market. The live stock breeder must be guided by the 
same general rules as the fur-farmer, but the marketing will 
be an entirely different matter, as he will sell his stock, (1) to 
fur-farmers as foundation stock or new blood; (2) to pet 
stock fanciers whose numbers are constantly increasing; (3) 
and for miscellaneous purposes such as the stocking of 
zoological gardens, etc. 

Thus skunk culture may be pursued by anyone, (1) who 
has the necessary land for the purpose, although the amount 
may vary from a back yard to a large farm, according to the 
breeder's aspirations; (2) who has a real taste and devotion 
to the care of live animals ; ( 3 ) and who is willing to apply his 

23 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



mind and energy to the study of the particular needs of the 
skunk, for success in no line may be attained without diligent 
application to the subject. 

Some trappers will succeed, as they know something of the 
needs of the skunk. Some farmers will succeed, as they are 
familiar with the care of dumb animals. But all three condi- 
tions and qualities must be met and many a person who has 
never trapped or farmed may combine these — land, love and 
labor. 



24 



CHAPTER II 
Habits and Economics 

Skunks are largely nocturnal in their activities, appearing 
often as soon as dusk approaches and often continuing abroad 
until dawn. They are not climbers, and the large species of 
skunk seldom ascend the trunks of trees unless it is to attempt 
escape when confined. The little spotted skunks are more 
prone to climb trees, but do not do so to any great extent. 

Skunks usually adopt some ready-made shelter for their 
nests or dens. They are rather too lazy to burrow to make 
dens, but prefer to adopt the burrow of a rabbit or a wood- 
chuck, which they can readily adapt to their needs. They are 
semi-domestic by nature and like to live near the habitation 
of man. They penetrate beneath hay stacks, stone ledges or 
under the floors of barns frequently, and there spend the 
winter in a state of semi-hibernation. Being well equipped 
with fat in the fall they can endure the winter with little food, 
but usually come forth at each mild period or during thaws. 

They mate about the first of March in the temperate cli- 
mates and after a period of gestation of approximately sixty 
days bring forth litters of from four to twelve hairless young, 
which open their eyes at about four weeks and are weaned at 
about eight weeks. 

In the summer the food of the wild skunk is almost entirely 
insects, such as crickets, grasshoppers, June bugs and other 
beetles, grubs, army worms, cutworms, tobacco or tomato 
worms and many other harmful creatures. They eat hop- 
grubs, as well as Colorado potato bugs. When the weather 
becomes cooler their diet is confined more to field mice, rats 
and other small rodents. 

25 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



To some extent skunks eat bird's eggs and small game and 
occasionally visit the hen house when hungry, but in the latter 
case usually only what is actually needed for food is taken and 
the flock is not slaughtered. 

Skunks may be approached in the wild state with much 
more safety than is generally supposed and they will often 
themselves approach persons when quiet or in camp with not 
the slightest inconvenience. They are very inquisitive and 
unsuspicious and it takes considerable alarm or fright to 
startle them so as to cause them to throw their scent fluid in 
self defense. A quick move is likely to startle them calami- 
tously. 

Once when the author was dressed in his Sunday clothes, 
he happened upon a two-thirds grown wild skunk in a pas- 
ture. As he approached the skunk retreated but stopped 
when only five or six yards intervened. The author stopped at 
the same time and remained stationary until the skunk again 
began her slow retreat, often stopping, facing about and 
stamping her front feet saucily on the ground in sharp thuds. 
Finally she was thus worked over toward a stone wall and as 
soon as she had partly entered a crevice the author quickly 
and unseen reached forward and seized her tail which he kept 
tightly drawn in a straight line with the back bone. Finally 
the skunk's hold in the crevice weakened and she was with- 
drawn without mishap and then carried nearly two miles back 
to the farm house where dinner was waiting. The author took 
her still suspended by the tail into the house through the 
woodshed, through the kitchen, through the dining room and 
past the long table on which dinner was spread and finally 
out of the front door, across the road and into the barn. Here 
he let her gradually down into a barrel half full of fluffy hay, 
all without the slightest odor of skunk. The next morning 
without mishap she was deprived of her scent sacs which were 
found to have a most full and complete supply of ammunition. 

26 



HABITS AND ECONOMICS 



The above example shows what can be done when a skunk 
is approached gently and intelligently but it is recommended 
that the beginner wait until he has had considerable experi- 
ence before entering the house with a fully armed wild skunk. 

Should a skunk enter the cellar it can easily be driven by 
slow and gentle approach until it crawls behind a box placed 
with open side toward the wall. As soon as the skunk is thus 
out of sight the box is pushed against the wall and the skunk 
made prisoner. A board is then passed between the box and 
the wall and the board and box and skunk may be then carried 
out. The skunk may be tumbled about in the box without 
scenting as it sees no enemy into whose eyes the scent fluid 
may be thrown. 

It is a fact that when an enemy approaches and drives a 
skunk to bay it will stand ground, facing its adversary ' ' with 
both ends," until at the final sally the scent fluid is thrown 
with accurate aim into the enemy's eyes causing temporary 
blindness lasting three to five minutes, long enough for the 
skunk to escape. 

A dog when subjected to this ignomy, will roll and rub his 
face and nose in the earth in great pain for a few minutes. 

The author recently had both eyes filled with the fluid 
when carelessly handling a skunk which had just been re- 
ceived and supposed to have been disarmed. For three or four 
minutes the feeling was that the end of the world had come 
and then suddenly all was again serene. 

To remove odor of the scent fluid from the skin or hair 
wash first with soap and water and then with dilute acetic 
acid (one part to ten of water) and then rinse and dry. A 
slight trace will remain for several days but it can be held 
in disguise by applying balsam peru diluted with five parts 
of alcohol. This forms a sort of seal besides having a pleasant 
odor in itself and is especially useful on and around the finger 
nails. Gasoline is an efficacious wash but must be handled 



27 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



carefully on account of fire which must not be approached even 
after the hands are apparently dry as the gasoline soaks into 
the skin. Chloride of lime dissolved in water is a good wash 
for the hands but must not be put on the face or hair. 

Clothes are practically ruined by the odor. Long exposure 
to sun, rain and wind will permit them to be used as "old 
clothes.'' 

So great is the preponderance of good that the skunk does 
for agriculture that many states have passed protective laAvs. 
About a dozen states have a closed season and only permit 
trapping or killing in the few winter months. 

NeAv York state was first in thus protecting the skunk and 
the Conservation Law in that state is in this respect the most 
radical and complete of any state. In order to illustrate how 
necessary some states have seen fit to protect the skunk the 
New York law is quoted below : 

PART V. 

Conservation Law. 

§ 199. Skunk. Skunk may be taken either in the 

daytime or at night and in any manner, but they 

shall not be taken from holes or dens by digging, 

smoking or the use of chemicals, and they may be 

possessed from November tenth to February tenth, 

both inclusive. Skunks which are injuring property 

or have become a nuisance may be taken at any time 

in any manner. 

[As amended by chapter 508, Laws of 1913, and by 
chapter 92, Laws of 1914.] 

§ 200. Propagation of fur bearing animals per- 
mitted. All species of fur-bearing animals^ protected 
by this chapter may be kept alive in captivity at all 
times fo 1 - purposes of propagation and sale only, pro- 
vided a license so to do shall first have been obtained 
from the commission. Every person obtaining such 
license shall pay the commission the sum of five 

28 



HABITS AXD ECONOMICS 



dollars as a license fee. Xo fur bearing animals 

shall be thus kept which are taken wild during the 

close season for such fur-bearing animals, and such 

fur-bearing animals so kept shall not be disposed of 

in any way during the close season. 

[As amended bv chapter 508, Laws of 1913, and 
chapter 92, Laws of 1914.] 

§ 203. Penalties. A person who violates any pro- 
vision of Part V shall be guilty of a misdemeanor 
and in addition thereto, is liable as follows: •••• 

* • • and for each violation of section one hundred 
and ninety-nine to a penalty of ten dollars for each 
skunk taken in violation thereof; . . * . 



Rules and Regulations. 

PROPAGATION AND SALE OF FUR-BEARING 
ANIMALS. 
p. , 27. Each application for a license to 

engage in the business of propagation 

and sale of fur-bearing animals shall be accompanied 
by a satisfactory bond to the People of the State in 
the penal sum of five hundred dollars, conditioned that 
the applicant will not keep such fur-bearing animals 
which are taken wild during the close season for such 
fur-bearing animals and will not dispose of such fur- 
bearing animals in any way during the close season; 
that he will observe all of the prohibitions, restric- 
tions and conditions imposed by the terms of the li- 
cense to be issued and the provisions of section 200 of 
the Conservation Law. 

28. If said bond is approved, and 

Approval of upon payment to it of a fee of five 

bond, and fee. dollars, the Commission shall issue to 

the applicant a license permitting him 

to keep fur-bearing animals under the provisions of 

said section for one year from a time therein stated, 

29 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



but no such license shall be issued to take effect dur- 
ing the close season. 
Renewal of In order to authorize the continu- 
license* ance °^ suc ^ ^ censes thereafter, the 
licensee shall renew said bond annu- 
ally, and the fee for renewal of license shall be five 
dollars. 

Construction. 29 ' No P erson Purchasing fur-bear- 
ing animals from such licensee shall 
have them in possession during the close season, 
even though purchased during the open season, un- 
less such person shall have a license under section 
200 of the Conservation Law. 

Penalty 30 * An ^ P erson violating the pro- 

visions of such bond, any rule or 
regulation of the Commission or any of the provi- 
sions of section 200 of the Conservation Law shall 
forfeit his license and shall be denied the privilege 
of giving another bond. 
[As amended April 27, 1914.1 

Should any one wishing to breed skunks in any state have 
doubts as to whether any restrictions apply to his capturing, 
buying or selling live skunks at any time or at all times of the 
year, he should write to his State Game Commissioner at the 
State Capital for full information. It is an easy matter to 
comply with the law and compliance will avoid serious com- 
plications. 

It is thus clear that the skunk is a useful animal entirely 
aside from the value of the fur. The fat is an article of com- 
merce being used as a liniment by some in case of sore throat, 
etc. Even the scent fluid has use as a constituent of animal 
baits for the trap line and is used in medicine to some extent. 
The flesh is edible and Dr. C. Hart Merriam in Vol. 1 of the 
Transactions of the LinnaBan Society of New York, October 
1882, writes as follows: 

30 



HABITS AND ECONOMICS 



' ' The flesh of the skunk is white, tender and sweet, and is 
delicious eating. It is not unlike chicken, but is more delicate, 
and its taste is particularly agreeable. Being, happily, free 
from any of that ' ' squeamishness ' ' which Audubon and Bach- 
man lament as preventing them from tasting the meat of this 
animal, I am able to speak on this point from ample personal 
experience — having eaten its flesh cooked in a variety of ways, 
boiled, broiled, roasted, fried, and fricassed — and am prepared 
to assert that a more 'toothsome bit' than a broiled skunk 
is hard to get, and rarely finds its way to the table of the 
epicure. ' ' 

The fur value of the skunk is well known to all but it is 
interesting to know that according to Farmers Bulletin No. 
587 of the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, entitled "Economic 
Value of North American Skunks," their pelts bring to the 
United States trappers about $3,000,000 annually. The annual 
output may be said to be about 2,000,000 skins. 



31 



CHAPTER III 

Classification 

Skunks are classified in various ways for different purposes 
and three classifications may be stated as follows: 

1. Zoological classification, based on differences of bone 
formation, teeth and other anatomical peculiarities. 

2. For buyers' classification, based on amount of black 
fur. 

3. Breeders' classification, which is an extension and 
elaboration of the fur buyers' classification. 

Zoological Classification. — The scientist divides animals 
systematically into graded zoological groups based on struc- 
ture of parts and their relative proportions. 

The skunks of North America are divided into two genera 
as follows : 

Mephitis — The large two-striped skunks. 

Spilogale — The small spotted skunks. 

The genus Mephitis comprises the skunks which furnish 
the fur known as ' ' Skunk ' ' in the fur market and contains the 
following species and sub-species : 

Mephitis mephitis (Canada Skunk). 

Mephitis hudsonica (Northern Plains Skunk). 

Mephitis putida (Eastern Skunk). 

Mephitis elongata (Florida Skunk). 

Mephitis mesomelas (Louisiana Skunk). 

Mephitis mesomelas avia (Illinois Skunk). 

Mephitis mesomelas varians (Long Tailed Texas Skunk). 

Mephitis estor (Arizona Skunk). 

Mephitis occidentals (California Skunk). 

32 



North American Fauna, No. 20 



PLATE I I 




Skins of Chincha. 

1. Chincha mephitis. 2 Chincha mesomelas. 3. Chincha estor. 

(Reproduced by courtesy of the Bureau of Biological Survey, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture— Reduced) 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



Mephitis occidentalis spissigrada (Puget Sound Skunk). 

Mephitis occidentalis notata (Cascade Skunk). 

Mephitis occidentalis major (Great Basin Skunk). 

Mephitis occidentalis holzneri (Southern Calif. Skunk). 

Mephitis platyrhina (Broad Nosed Skunk). 

Mephitis macroura (Hooded Skunk). 

Mephitis macroura milleri (Northern Hooded Skunk). 

Mephitis macroura vittata (Least Hooded Skunk). 

The above list is compiled from North American Fauna 
No. 20, entitled "Revision of the Skunks of the Genus 
Chincha," by Mr. Arthur H. Howell, excepting that the 
generic name "Mephitis" has been employed in accordance 
with present usage (instead of "Chincha"). 

The genus Spilogale which furnishes the skins known in 
the fur market as ' l Civet ' ' has never been used for fur- farm- 
ing as the skins are small and low priced. There are twenty 
species and sub-species recognized in North America. 

The list will be found in North American Fauna, No. 26, 
entitled ' ' Revision of the Skunks of the Genus Spilogale, ' ' by 
Arthur H. Howell. (North American Fauna is a series of 
technical bulletins prepared and published by the United 
States Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Biological 
Survey. ) 

Fur Buyers' Classification. — Skins are classed usually as 
No. 1 (or black) ; No. 2 (or short stripe) ; No. 3 (or narrow 
stripe) ; and No. 4 (or broad stripe). The price paid is de- 
termined largely by this grading. However, size of skin, 
quality, thickness and primeness of fur and condition of skin 
have a great deal to do with the value. A skin is said to be 
prime when the summer fur has entirely been replaced by the 
new growth for winter. 

Grade No. 1 is usually regarded as covering pelts that are 
mostly black, the white being on head and perhaps a little on 
shoulders. Grade No. 2 covers short stripes about half the 

34 



North American Fauna, No. 26, U. S. Dept. Agr., Biological Sur 




Skins of Spilogale. 
1, Spilogale putorius; 2, Spilogale interrupta; 3, Spilogale leucoparia. 

(Reproduced by courtesy of the Bureau of Biological Survey, U. S. Dept. or Agriculture— Reduced) 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



length of the body. Grade No. 3 covers long narrow stripes 
the whole length of the body. Grade No. 4 covers broad stripes 
the whole length of the body or any greater degree of white- 
ness. 

These grades refer to the large type of skunk and not to 
the small spotted skunks the skins of which are called "civet" 
or "civet cat" in the market. 

Breeders' Classification. — This classification originated by 
the author in 1911 has been adopted by practically all breeders 
for their own records and for the sale of live stock for breed- 
ing purposes. It consists of eight grades as follows : 



DO ODD 




The Eight Grades for the Breeder 

AAA — Completely black with not a single patch of white 
on face, head, neck, body, tail or elsewhere. This 
is extremely rare and but few specimens have been 
known to occur and these cases are largely tradi- 
tional. This grade is the goal of the breeder. 
AA — Star black with white confined to face, head and 
tail. There must be no white on shoulders or body. 
The white on head may be round, crescent, forked 
oi' separate marks. 

36 



CLASSIFICATION 



A — The same as A A except white may run to the 

shoulders but not further back. 
B — Half stripes. 
C — Long narrow stripes. 
D — Broad stripes. 
DD — Back solid white. 
DDD — Completely white. This grade of white or albino 
skunk is not so rare as AAA. 




Grade DDD Pure White 

Any intermediate grade may be noted by hyphenating the 
grades between which it is found. That is, a skunk with a 
very small spot of white on the face or on tip of tail but no 
white hairs elsewhere can be graded AAA-AA. A good star 
with a slight tuft of white on shoulder can be graded AA-A. 
Thus intermediate grades are readily indicated. 

It will be noted that grades A, B, C and D are substantially 
the fur buyers' typical grades, No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 
respectively. 

The method of using these grade designations in recording 
pedigrees, etc., is described in the chapter on marking and 
pedigrees. 

37 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



It may here be remarked that sometimes the black fur is 
replaced with a chocolate color called by some "red" and by 
others ' ' brown. ' ' The white may be of any pattern the same 
as associated with black. A "red star'-' skunk is a star of 
grade AA having- the red color instead of black. 

Mr. J. M. Bray of Schwenkville, Pa., states: "The stripes 
are white the same as they would be on a black skunk. The 
fur value is the same as a black skunk. I have been a fur 
buyer for about thirty years and I have possibly met ten or 
fifteen in all my travel, so you can judge that they are not 
very plenty." 



38 



CHAPTER IV 

Selection of Location 

In almost any location in the temperate or cooler sections 
of the country skunks may be successfully raised and while 
it is true that skunk farms are in operation from Texas, Ala- 
bama and Florida in the South to the far North in Canada, 
it is also true that the best development of fur will be attained 
in the cooler sections. In most parts of the United States the 
skunk is found native and there are no states where it can not 
be successfully raised for breeding purposes although the 
thickness of the fur will be regulated by the needs of protec- 
tion imposed by the climate. 

The question is often asked, "can skunks be raised in my 
locality"? While the usual answer is "yes," the inquirer can 
in all cases decide this for himself by noting whether wild 
skunks thrive in his locality, or in similar locations (for some- 
times close trapping has exterminated the skunk in a place 
where it formerly thrived). 

It would only be an extreme case of high altitude, desert, 
swamp, heat or excessive cold where the skunk could not be 
raised and in any place where man may live in comfort it is 
safe to say the skunk may be raised successfully. 

Nearness to a cheap food supply is an important item to 
consider if great numbers of skunks are to be raised. Thus if 
close to a city or near a stock yard waste product will make 
the cost of raising low but there are other ways of offsetting 
cost even in remote localities as will be described later under 
"Feeding." 

39 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



In choosing the site on your premises for locating the skunk 
yards you may select land that is not especially valuable for 
cultivation ; in other words good tillable land is not necessary. 
A rocky hillside or gulch or a wood lot may be used. Be sure 
it has good drainage as it would not do to select a piece of land 
that might be under water at any time of the year. If it has 
timber or even scrub growth on it so much the better for if 
there is no natural shade it must be supplied artificially as 
will be later described, in order to protect from the mid-day 
sun. 

If running water occurs naturally on the place it will save 
labor as otherwise it must be piped or carried. 

Some breeders have been able to fence off the mouth of a 
gulch and enclose several acres with very little fencing as the 
steep rocky sides formed an impassable barrier. Such condi- 
tions are rare and in most cases a wise and economical selection 
of land may be made on any farm or in any locality. 




CHAPTER V 
Range and Yard Fences 

A main fence called the range fence should be built around 
the whole tract or range on which skunks are to be raised. This 
can be built as the farm grows. For instance a half acre could 
be fenced the first year if a small beginning is made, or one or 
two acres if a larger start is desired, and then the area can be 
doubled the second or third year. 

This range fence must be absolutely skunk tight from the 
inside and dog, wolf, and man tight on the outside. This range 
fence may be made by using any of the following materials: 

1. Wire netting. 

2. Corrugated sheet iron. 

3. Boards. 

4. Concrete. 

In any case posts and stringers are required as well as 
a few barbed wires. 

The Wire Netting Range Fence. — This will be found the 
cheapest fence under most conditions. It should be made of 
wire netting not coarser than l^-inch mesh and not lighter 
than No. 17 gauge. The wire should be of the ordinary poultry 
type of hexagonal mesh and must be galvanized after weaving. 
The twists are thus thoroughly soldered, and the fence is much 
stronger. The coat of galvanizing is continuous and unin- 
jured and protects the wire from rust. Do not accept netting 
that is merely woven from galvanized wire as it is weak and 
the thin coating of zinc is much bruised in the weaving 
process. 

41 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



A good fence is made of No. 17 gauge 1 14 -inch mesh net- 
ting extending 2y 2 feet into the ground and 3^2 feet above 
ground. A 1-foot overhang of the same wire should be placed 
at the upper edge. Above this a 2!/2-foot riser of 3-inch mesh 
No. 17 wire should be run and above this a couple of barbed 
wires. The barbed wire should be made to support the top of 
the 3-inch mesh netting by means of suspension tie wires or 
by vertical slats stapled to the barbed wires and to the 3-inch 
mesh netting. Ten-foot posts set 8 to 10 feet apart should be 
used and a stringer 2x4 inches should be run at the top of the 
1^4 -inch mesh wire. 

The cut shows the general construction of this fence. In 
some ground it might be safe to run the wire only 2 feet below 
the surface. It is well to lay flat stones at the foot of the wire 
in the bottom of the trench, or thin cement grout may be 
poured along the bottom. Even a board laid flat in the trench 
is good but a narrow strip of netting is better. The last men- 
tioned effect is easily obtained by turning in the fence netting 
itself to lie on the bottom of the trench as dug. Too much care 
cannot be taken to prevent the skunks from burrowing under 
the fence, especially if the ground is not hard or stony. Many 
beginners have lost their entire stock by escape because some 
weak spot in the fence was left. 

The wire netting fence has an advantage in not causing 
snow drifts over which the skunks sometimes escape when 
solid fences are used and where close watch is not maintained. 

With any kind of a fence constant vigilance should be the 
watchword and regular rounds of inspection made daily. 

The cost of the wire for the fence above described is about 
14 cents per running foot of fence. The cost of posts and 
stringers will vary widely with the location, as well as cost of 
labor. 

A modification of this netting fence is to omit the overhang 
and instead place a strip of tin or sheet iron about 18 inches 

42 



RANGE AND YARD FENCES 



RET BELOW GROUND 



FEET ABOVE GROUND 




43 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



wide above the netting. This necessitates a second stringer 
to support it, but makes a perfectly safe construction and 
saves labor. It does not add much to the total cost. 

The accompanying table shows the usual retail prices of 
the netting and as a matter of comparison all the various 
meshes and gauges are given. The higher the gauge number 
the lighter the wire. In large quantities netting may be bought 
somewhat cheaper. 

The Corrugated Sheet Iron Range Fence. — This fence is 
made by sinking corrugated sheet iron roofing into the ground 
2 or 3 feet and letting it come 3 or 4 feet above ground. It 
should be painted with asphaltum for the underground part 
and with some good graphite paint above ground. It is 
hardly worth while using galvanized iron for the purpose as 
the galvanizing is done before the sheets are corrugated and 
hence is much bruised. Paint must be relied on to prevent 
rust. 

If No. 24 gauge iron is used the cost will be about 3% to 4 
cents per square foot, making a cost of about 25 cents per foot 
if sheets 7 feet long are used. This does not include cost of 
poles and stringer which must be added. 

No overhang need be used with this construction as the 
skunks cannot climb the sheet iron. 

The 3-inch mesh netting and barbed wire should be used 
above the sheet iron to keep out intruders of all kinds. 

An advantage of this fence is saving of labor. It has been 
used and is quite popular in some parts of the country. Its 
disadvantage is that it causes snow drifts and offers a broad- 
side to heavy winds which may sometimes tear it down. It 
may also prevent drainage unless care is given to this feature. 

If thinner iron is used the cost is somewhat reduced but 
too weak a construction should be avoided. 

44 



RANGE AND YARD FENCES 



OD > 


M- 


<*h 


•M** 


- 


*h 


Nh 


N 




a' 


3/£ 

Y>fc 


rn 


So 
> 










* 




■" 


" 


3~ 


X 7 o 
7 n 


X 

:> 

o 
















b 




* 


rn 5 
















c/i 


*1 




21 
> 

r- 














>^ 


r^ 


^«* 


* 


O CO 
m *J 














o 


o 


04 


* 
























— 1 


5£ 














4^ 




o 

Oo 






2 *) 
O t/) 

2? 






















<0 








o 


c 


3 


o 


to 
01 


6) 
cm 


4 








o 
o 


as 


0| 


Co 

O 


-^ 
^ 


Os 

^ 






rri m 

m 

■Hit 

< m 

TT) 






















m 






8 


Ol 


O 


Co 

c 


On 


^ 
^ 


8 




Pi 
o 


04 

bo 

o 




04 

o 


o 


o 


O 


4^ 


4^ 
O 




U 
H 


Ol 


Gl 


^ 


•^ 


. 


. 




. 




fr 


"n r 


o 


(5s 


Cr> 


—- 


00 


ON 


lh 


-k 


L>4 


^ 


Pi 


o 


O 


c 


o 


Oi 


o 


cn 


O 


^ 


o 


X 


gin 

H r 

.3 






















O 

< 

m 


6 


to 
O 


ON 














*? 


Z2 <s> 


04 


















K* 


13 
C/i 


3 


















A3 


Z 



45 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



The Board Range Fence. — This fence may be built any- 
where that lumber is very cheap, such as in the forests near a 
saw mill. In most places lumber is too expensive to use. The 
surface should be smooth enough so the skunks cannot get a 
foothold to climb out. If the boards are rough so that the 
skunks can climb nail a strip of tin 15 inches wide a few feet 
above the ground or place a board overhang near the top. 

The board fence must be built strong to withstand the 
wind and this may be a serious problem. Barbed wire should 
be used on the top. 

The Concrete Range Fence. — A fence may be made by 
erecting a concrete wall in a trench and has been used where 
sand and gravel are handy and cement cheap. This makes a 
strong fence of most lasting qualities, but is too expensive for 
most cases. It should rest on a good footing 1 foot wide in 
the bottom of the trench. It may taper from 8 inches wide at 
the bottom to 4 inches wide at the top. No overhang is neces- 
sary if the sides are made smooth. Vertical iron rods should 
be set every 6 or 8 feet for reinforcement and should project 
above the wall so as to carry barbed wire. A couple of barbed 
wires should also be run horizontally in the wall near the top 
for added strength. 

From the foregoing it is evident that there are several ways 
of making a secure main fence to surround the whole skunk 
range. This does not mean that all the skunks or any con- 
siderable number of them may be turned loose within this 
place. If this is done disaster would result as has occurred so 
many times with the inexperienced, for in any bunch of skunks 
there will usually be a few that are quarrelsome. 

When quarreling begins blood will be drawn sooner or 
later and the victim is set upon by his comrades and finally 
killed and devoured. In fact one vicious skunk will soon teach 
the others the murderous habit and a state of general cannibal- 
ism is likely to follow. 

46 



RANGE AND YARD FENCES 



Hence it is necessary to sub-divide the general tract into 
yards of convenient size. If these yard units are made forty 
feet square a dozen skunks may be safely kept in each. Even 
so, the keeper must keep watch to see that all goes well and if 
any skunk is found to be ugly he should be confined separately 
or killed if separation is not feasible. 

A good supply of dens (not less than six) should be pro- 
vided in each yard as described under chapter on dens. 

RANGE FENCE 



J6 YA\RDS 



(APPftOX. \ 



YARD 



FCNCE 




32 BREEDING PENS 

00 00 
0' 



r SHED For. 

JL .FEED, BEDDIN& 

ANDC.OOKEH 




JJfflVf 



One Acre Ranch (Approx. 209x209 ft.) for 6 Males and 36 Females- 
32 of These Should Become Mothers 

47 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



Yard Fences. — The yard fences need not be anything like 
as strong or expensive as the range fence. It will usually be 
sufficient to run them V/ 2 or 2 feet in the ground and a height 
of 3 feet above ground is plenty. No high coarse wire netting 
or barbed wire for keeping out dogs or boys will be necessary. 

The yard fences may be made of the 1%-inch mesh No. 17 
wire netting with double overhang at the top three feet above 
the surface of the ground. Or it may be made of netting 
brought only 1% feet above the ground and an 18-inch strip 
of tin placed above it thus making it impossible for skunks to 
climb over either side without the need of any overhang at all. 
Or 4 or 5-foot lengths of corrugated sheet iron may be stuck 
in the ground iy 2 or 2 feet and make a safe and easily con- 
structed fence requiring no overhang. 

In all cases after making the range fence or the yard fences 
the earth should be firmly tamped back in the trench dug for 
the underground portion, so that the skunks will not find loose 
earth along the fence and start digging there. 

All gates should be made with good heavy hinges and with 
secure fastenings. The range fence should be padlocked. 



48 



CHAPTER VI 

Breeding Pens 

Each female must have a separate compartment called a 
breeding pen in which to bring forth and to rear her young. 
For this purpose portable pens made 6 feet square and 2 feet 
high are found practical. They should be framed from 2-inch 
by 2-inch undressed sticks and covered on sides, top and 
bottom with 114-inch No. 17 gauge netting described in Chap-' 
ter V. 




An Ideal Breeding Pen with Two Dens 

49 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



A door 2 feet wide should extend clear across tiie top 
through the middle and should be hinged at one end. This 
makes it possible to step into the pen and reach any part of 
it easily. The accompanying photograph shows the construc- 
tion of one of these pens. 

Hinges of the type shown in the illustration make it pos- 
sible to quickly remove the door after opening it to a vertical 
position as this is desirable when the den is to be moved to a 




The Breeding Pens and Dens Are Easily Moved to Fresh Ground 



fresh location. It can thus be rolled over and over and all 
litter instantly dumped out. The door is then quickly replaced. 
This may seem a trivial point to dwell on but every time-saver 
should be utilized for there is a great deal of routine work to 

50 



BREEDING PENS 




B 


E 


Fraine with 2x2. Rou$h Pine. 

Cut Lengths as B^low:- 
4 A S" r 9i ,M 
4 B 6 FT 5 » N 

2 C 5' :r a" , ' 

2 D 5 rr 7:r' N 
/0£T r T S£' N 


E 


COVER TOP, SIDES AND BotTok 
with *I7- »^ ,N Me S H NETTINC 


E 


6 





~T 






FRAMING OF BREEDING PEN 



r»i 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



be done on a fur farm, and the less labor that is hired the 
better for the skunks and the owner. 

Two bales of 2-foot netting will make five breeding pens, 
the cost for netting being about $1.98 for each pen. 

So that the 2x2 sticks may be rapidly sawed to length and 
framed a drawing is here given. The netting should be fast- 
ened as in all cases with light poultry wire staples. The two 
seams on the bottom may be easily woven by passing light 
galvanized wire in and out along the meshes, or these two 
seams may be avoided entirely if a breadth of netting six feet 
wide is used. 

The most practical feature of these breeding pens is that 
they can be moved to fresh ground frequently and this is an 
important item of sanitation. This is especially essential after 
the young arrive and are old enough to leave their nest or den, 
as clean quarters must be maintained. Otherwise various 
maladies later described will result. 

As a matter of fact the skunk is a cleanly animal and 
usually deposits all excrement and urine in one place which 
will in most cases be a corner of the pen. If a pan of sand 
or sawdust is placed at the corner and covered by an old over- 
turned box with one side or end removed for entrance the 
skunk will use this "outhouse" as it may be called. Once or 
twice a week the pan may be emptied and the breeding pen 
thus kept sweet and clean. The same system may be used in 
the yards described in Chapter Y but the advantage is not so 
great there on account of the greater room. The author has 
often made these "outhouses" by inverting a wooden candy 
pail or bucket over a round galvanized pan four inches deep 
and cutting a hole six or seven inches square in the side of the 
bucket for the skunk to enter. The readiness with which the 
skunk learns to use this device is surprising. 

52 



BREEDING PENS 




Out-House 



If the weather is very hot and no natural shade exists it 
is well to lay burlap over the wire netting forming the top of 
the pen and it is a good plan to shade the dens in the same way 
as they should be kept as cool as possible in summer. 



53 



CHAPTER VII 



Dens 



Dens are one of the most important matters with which 
the breeder has to deal. The desired qualities of a den are, 
protection from wind and rain, even temperature (warm in 
winter and cool in summer), dryness and good drainage, 
accessibility for cleaning and inspection. It should be dark 
and protected by an entrance that will give the skunk a feel- 
ing of safety as in the dens of the wild. 

Wooden boxes with double walls with straw or sawdust 
packed between and with wooden spouts for entrance have 
been used with success. Hollow logs sawed in sections are 
used where the ranch is near the woods and these make good 
dens. 

The author has for the most part used sewer pipe. A sec- 
tion ten inches in diameter is used as the nest part and is 
placed so the drainage is toward the bell end (slope one inch 
in the two-foot length of pipe). The bell end of a six-inch 
diameter elbow is cemented into the small end of the nest sec- 
tion. To this elbow a two-foot straight length of six-inch pipe 
is added. The elbow must be the high point so the den will 
drain both ways from it. 

The den is closed by inserting a round block of wood or 
cement in the bell of the ten-inch nest pipe. This block is 
about IIV2 to 12 inches in diameter and should have a cleat 
for a handle. If made of cement a piece of heavy wire may 
be imbedded to form a handle. The block must fit well but 
should not be tight fit as that would interfere with its re- 
moval. For holding it snugly in place a wire is passed around 
the pipe at the base of the bell and twisted securely and then 

54 



DENS 



formed into a loop which projects just beyond the end of the 
pipe at the edge of the bell. A broom handle is passed through 





hmFlu ■ 


\m HY X 


v ' ■ Jm ' \siyf ""HM?! 




^^^m |j IS 


' 


9 j li 


V 


ISBmBbW« ' i ^** m 








'>■...'. 


. • .••*.••'; 


'''"".'' /■?'■'.-■ ■",' ,. f ; f" ,, ' ^ ' ',- ' »'■-*'. _ k' '*„""/ '*- _, *».-•. 





A Group of 28 Breeding Pens Showing Dens with 
Straw Covering Removed 

this loop and driven down by the block and on into the ground. 
A wedge is forced between the broom handle and the block if 
necessary to keep it snugly pressed into the bell. 

The whole pipe must be covered by earth, sod, straw or 
leaves to keep out the winter chill and the summer heat. It 
is a very good thing to turn a box over the entrance to the 
den so that the skunk has a vestibule from which to emerge. 
It adds to the skunk's feeling of security. This vestibule will 



55 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



frequently be used by the skunk as an out house for excrement 
but this does no harm and is easily cleaned. 

It is particularly important that straw or leaves be well 
packed against the block closing the nest so that wintry wind 
cannot enter, as draughts are very dangerous and likely to 
cause colds and sore throat. 

It is important that dens be kept clean. The bedding 
should be renewed about once a month. Some dens could go 
twice or three times as long and some should be cleaned oftener 
as it will be noted that some skunks are more cleanly than 
others. Needs must govern in each case. 

The best bedding for nests is long dry grass or soft hay 
with some dry leaves. Coarse hay or straw should not be used. 
It has no warmth and is harsh bedding. Oat straw is better 
than wheat straw if straw must be used. The sharp barbs of 
wheat straw are bad as they lodge in the fur. If a piece of 
cloth is hung in the pen the skunks will tear off pieces and use 
them to line their nests. 

"When cleaning the nests disinfect them by spraying the 
inside with a germicide (1 part Kreso with 50 parts soft water 
is good or any good sheep dip may be used). Any places 
about the yards or pens fouled by the skunks should be dis- 
infected by thorough spraying or sprinkling with the germi- 
cide. It is easy to overlook and neglect this precaution but 
the penalty for neglect will be heavy to pay. Anyone who 
has raised poultry or other animals successfully has learned 
this lesson. 



56 



CHAPTER VIII 



Stocking the Ranch 

Stocking the ranch may be done very economically if a 
modest start is made or if good wild stock is native to the 
locality. 

A breeder just starting in the work without experience 
absolutely must start on a small scale. If he attempts too 
much he will have so large an amount of work with which he 
is not acquainted on his hands that failure or very costly 
experience will await him. 

A dozen females and two or three males will be plenty the 
first year. For when spring comes there will be from sixty 
to ninety young born. There ought not to be a loss of more 
than one in each litter. There is often a runt that does not 
survive or is not worth raising. So the second spring should 
find the breeder with his original twelve females and about 
thirty-five more he has raised or say a total of forty-five 
females which should produce 300 to 350 young. These fig- 
ures may be a little too good for the beginner and perhaps 
300 is safe to estimate for his second spring's young which, 
with the 45 mothers and 10 males, makes a total of 355 head. 
This allows for losses and also for the sale of about 30 males 
from the first spring's young. 

The above shows how a modest start may be made and 
many whose time is pretty well occupied with other duties 
will do well if they even start with two males and six females. 
Never depend on a single male for your start as something 
might happen to him at the last moment before the mating 
season, and it is well to be able to switch males anyway, as 
will be explained in a later chapter. 

57 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



Now it is clear that high grade stock will cost no more to 
raise and feed than cheap stock. So by all means procure 
the best obtainable stock or the best that you can afford. A 
little more spent at this time for breeding stock will vastly 
repay the outlay. If possible stock your ranch with star black 
males and females known as grade AA having no white any- 
where except on head and tail. 




A Fine Large Specimen of Breeding Stock 



If you must economize do so on the females but in any case 
have the males star black and the females as near so as pos- 
sible. Get one or two good pairs at least of extra fine star 
blacks and they will have a beneficial effect on the balance, 
as will be evident when the young arrive. 

Obtain your stock from as near home as possible so it 
will be suited \yell to your climate. If skunks are brought from 
different localities care should be taken that they are the same 
species. For example, good results would not follow from 

58 



STOCKING THE RANCH 



mating long-tailed with short-tailed skunks, etc., as the off- 
spring, if any, might he sterile. 

A person who has had experience in breeding skunks can 
begin on a larger scale, and one hundred females and twenty 
males would be none too many. 

Some of the Canadian ranches have stocked their farms 
with thousands of dollars' worth of stock at the start, as the 
author well knows, as he has made heavy shipments to them. 




A Well Matched Team 



59 



CHAPTER IX 
Feeding 

The food given to skunks must be of good quality. It need 
not be choice but it must not be mouldy, rancid or decayed if 
health is to be maintained and success realized. The food, 
furthermore, must be given intelligently; that is, in sufficient 
quantity to properly nourish and to appease hunger so that 
fighting and cannibalism will not result. It is a fault to over- 
feed, as over fatness will result and other disorders will be 
caused. Feed young, growing skunks all they will eat up 
promptly each morning and evening before dusk. Give adults 
one feed a day towards evening and it will do no harm to skip 
a day once a week. Adults must have more food during the 
mating season beginning about the middle of February or first 
of March. The females must be well fed after being bred 
and should be fed morning and evening before dark after the 
young are born and are nursing. 

Fresh water must be given daily. The water pans must 
be washed each day to keep them sweet and clean, especially 
in warm weather. Slime will deposit on unwashed pans and 
cause disease even if pans are emptied and filled daily with 
fresh water. 

Returning to the matter of food it must not only be of 
good quality and intelligently fed but it must also be cheap 
if financial success is to be attained. 

If near a town, waste bread may be obtained from hotels, 
as well as meat trimmings and chicken heads. In fact these 
materials, with vegetables and waste fruits, dried prunes and 
sweet or sour milk, will make good and sufficient rations. 

Too much meat should not be fed. The equivalent of one 
chicken head every second day is about right under most con- 

60 



FEEDING 



ditions. Some skunks will demand more meat and some will 
get along on less. Much will depend on the way the skunks 
are brought up when young. 

The breeder who brings up his stock to eat a variety of 
food is the one who will have the greatest success and free- 
dom from diseases of all kinds. Vegetables and fruits must 
be fed in some form. The following are eaten and recom- 
mended when available : 

Carrots, parsnips, cabbage, potatoes. 

Melons, tomatoes, sweet corn, when very tender and milky. 

Sweet or mild ripe apples, pears, peaches, plums, grapes, 
and berries of all kinds, dried prunes. 

Bread of wheat, rye, corn, oatmeal, cornmeal mush. 

Milk, sweet, sour, or lobbered. 

Chicken heads, dead chicken, meat trimmings, rabbits, or 
other game animals or birds, dead horses, cows, sheep, and the 
carcasses of skunks and other fur-bearing animals, dogs, or 
cats. 

Infertile eggs which have been set on or discarded from 
incubators may be given, but do not feed rotten eggs. 

The vegetables will in most cases have to be cooked. The 
meat is better cooked but may be fed raw occasionally when 
it is known to be quite fresh and free from disease. Animals 
that have died should be boiled or steamed to insure against 
disease germs. When feeding the carcasses of skunks be 
especially sure to cook, as fresh skunk meat will encourage 
cannibalism. 

On an extended scale a large steam cooker is the most 
economical and should be large enough to take a whole car- 
cass of a horse or cow, for when such is obtained it must be 
immediately sterilized and then fed as needed. In warm 
weather it may be kept sweet by applying the steam every 
1 2 or 24 hours. 

It is sometimes hard to teach skunks to eat carrots or some 

61 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



vegetables very desirable for them to have and the author has 
found that this difficulty may be overcome as follows: 

Take one peck of wheat bran, y 2 peck of wheat flour, 1 
peck finely ground cooked chicken heads or other ground 
meat and y 2 peck ground carrots (or other vegetables). 
Mix thoroughly, adding a tablespoon of salt and enough water 
or skimmed milk to make it stick together and bake in thin 
layers. Some molasses may be used. The amount of vege- 
tables may be gradually increased until a peck or more is used 
in the above recipe. The meat may be gradually decreased. 
If the mixture is moulded into small, flattened balls or cro- 
quettes they will bake quicker and be more practically han- 
dled as no cutting will be required and it will be easier to 
portion them out in feeding. 

In grinding the chicken heads or the meat a large size 
meat grinder, such as is used in most kitchens, only larger, is 
most practical and it will grind the vegetables as well. 

The author has found these croquettes to be of especial 
value in feeding for the following reasons: 

Convenient in distributing rations. 

Inexpensive (much cheaper than dog cakes frequently 
sold). 

Many materials hard to feed properly (such as blood) 
may be used up. 

The skunks may be compelled to eat a ration of definite 
balance of protein and carbohydrates. 

They may be taught to eat beneficial vegetables which are 
cheaply produced on the farm or cheaply bought. 

Bulky feces or excrement are produced by means of the 
bran which passes through the system largely unaltered. 

The last mentioned effect is of more value than would 
first appear, for it causes a normal action of the intestines of 
the skunk. If the feces of wild skunks are examined any time 
in the summer they will be found to consist almost entirely 

62 



FEEDING 



of the shells and wings of beetles, crickets, etc. When winter 
approaches the amount of bran may be somewhat reduced to 
provide a more concentrated food to lay up fat for winter. 

Do not, however, feed the croquettes or any other one food 
steadily. Vary the ration to avoid monotony and afford 
needed variety. 

Give a straight meat feed twice a week. Give a bread and 
milk feed occasionally. Bread and milk is the best feed for 
young skunks when weaning and largely until they are three 
months old. 

In order to control a constant and ready supply of fresh 
meat, rabbits are being extensively raised by skunk breeders 
and this is surely going to be the solution of the meat prob- 
lem in many cases, especially in remote or wild sections. A 
few acres of good rabbit land covered with scrub growth will 
produce and hold a vast number of rabbits if a rabbit-proof 
fence is built. Even on a moderate scale the rabbits may be 
held in reserve for times when the meat supply of farm ani- 
mals is low and fed on such occasions. They solve the prob- 
lem of always having fresh meat on hand. Wild rabbits have 
been largely fed by many breeders favorably located, and 
Mr. W. I. Lyon of Waukegan, 111., raises his own. Even 
further south Mr. H. S. Curtis of Falls City, Ala., breeds 
rabbits and skunks side by side for this reason. 



63 



CHAPTER X 



Management of Young and Old 

About January first selection of breeding stock for the 
next season is completed and certainly by the middle of Jan- 
uary all other stock should have been marketed or removed, a 
portion at least having been sold as live stock to other breeders. 

Group the Females. — Separate out the females into groups 
of six and put each group in a yard by themselves, being sure 
that they have not less than six good, clean dens. 

The males which have been saved (one for each group of 
six females) will be kept in separate yards, each male by 
himself. 

In a one-acre range there Avill be about sixteen yards and at 
this time of the year six of the yards will have six select 
females each, making a total of thirty-six females. The 
males can occupy the other yards singly and the yards con- 
taining the males and females may alternate to advantage. 
The feeding should be light at this time and until the mid- 
dle of February. Every second day will be often enough to 
feed. 

Introduce the Males. — Between the middle of February 
and the first of March the breeding season usually begins. 
If each male has been confined in a yard next to a yard of 
six females the gate between may be opened February 15th to 
admit him to them. The males should be left in communica- 
tion with the females until the first of April, a total of six 
weeks. 

Switch the Males. — It is a /ery good thing to switch the 
males from one yard to another about March 20th, that is, 

64 



MANAGEMENT OF YOUNG AND OLD 



take each male from the females lie has been with and put 
him in another yard with six other females. 

The reason for this is that one male might be sterile or 
some female might oppose him. The change is thus made to 
make sure that none of the females go fallow. Feed a good 
ration daily during this breeding season. 

Of course males will not be switched in certain special 
matings where strict records are being kept as in more ad- 
vanced breeding problems. In such cases more interest will 
center on the record than in having every female bred. 

Switching males does not affect the number of young each 
female will produce but it gives better promise that each 
female will be bred. 

Remove Males and Separate Females. — At the time of sep- 
arating females from males, April first, place each female in 
a separate pen by herself. Feed all she will eat up daily and 
each second day at least be sure she has a little sweet milk in 
a small dish, which may be spiked to the ground by a U-shaped 
wire to prevent overturning. Be sure to give fresh water 
daily. 

Provide plenty of fine, soft bedding. Last fall's dry grass 
and leaves are excellent. She will line her nest with pieces 
of cloth if she can get them. She must be left to herself and 
not be annoyed in any way. 

Toward the last of April but more generally in May the 
young begin to arrive. At this point many breeders, especially 
those not experienced, often fail and the young are lost, due 
entirely to impatience and imprudence. Some will be con- 
tinually opening the dens to see if the young have arrived, 
whereas they should leave the dens alone. As soon as the 
young actually arrive there is usually no doubt about it, as 
their bawlings can be heard by listening at the entrance of 
the den. 

65 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



Do Not Disturb Mother and Young. — Many wish to know 
immediately how many young there are and what their mark- 
ings are, so they will at once open the den to count and to 
see. This is a very dangerous thing to do. The young are 
quite helpless, without hair, and the eyes do not open for 
about three weeks. The color pattern is marked out completely 
in the color of the skin, which is black where the black fur 
is to grow, and white where the white fur will come. The 
mother, if frightened, may in her confusion do any one of 
many things. She may devour the young. She may for 






;; 



Four Weeks Old — Eyes Just Opening 



safety bury them in the litter of the nest where they will be 
suffocated. She may take them out of the den and carry them 
about looking for some safe place. She may in her frenzy 
trample them. She may bite them. The best thing to do is 
to keep away from the den entirely until the young come out 
with their mother at the age of six or eight weeks. 



MANAGEMENT OF YOUNG AND OLD 



If the nest is carefully opened at the age of three weeks 
there usually will be little danger, as the young are then 
furred in a silky coat and are quite strong and even if their 
eyes are hardly opened they can crawl about vigorously. Un- 
less there is some special reason it is very imprudent even to 
look into the den earlier than three weeks after birth, as 
those who have suffered loss will attest, and that means prac- 
tically all breeders before they have learned caution. 

Feeding Mother Twice Daily. — The mother, while nursing 
her young, should be fed twice a day, as she will have heavy 
demands on her system with anywhere from five to ten young 
drawing their sustenance from her. Give her a variety in- 
cluding cooked potatoes, meat, bread and milk and fruit. Do 
not feed all these in one day but some one day and others 
the next, except the bread and milk, which it is well to give 
in small quantities daily. At this time of the year the June 
bugs are flying and if lanterns are suspended over the breed- 
ing pens they will fly at the lanterns, strike them and fall 
down through the wire into the pens and will be greedily 
devoured by the skunks. These are choice tidbits which 
should always be fed when possible, and kerosene is well 
burned in attracting the bugs from a considerable distance. 
If desired they may be collected in numbers by hanging a 
lantern over a large pan of water in which they will fall and 
drown. 

The mothers are probably the most maternal in their in- 
stincts of any animals that are raised and this is even a diffi- 
culty to contend with. If two mothers with very young skunks 
are together in a small pen the stronger or more aggressive 
will steal all the other's young. She cannot nourish them all 
and some will therefore perish. 

Weaning Time.— When the young skunks sally forth from 
the den with the mother at the age of about six weeks they will 

G7 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



at once start looking for food and a shallow pan of milk should 
be provided. Very soon they will eat bread and milk, which 
should be provided twice a day. A little meat may be fed as 
the teeth become better developed and soon they will be eat- 
ing everything the mother eats. 

Do not try to wean abruptly. It is best to leave them with 
the mother until they are three months old. She seems to 
have a way of keeping them in order and preventing quarrels. 

Removing Scent Sacs From Young. — When the young are 
five or six weeks old they may be taken from the nest and 
disarmed. Tins is the most convenient time, as the teeth are 
not much developed and there is practically no danger of 
scent being thrown. They may be held in hand by an assist- 
ant and the sacs quickly removed. The cuts heal so quickly 
that in a few days there is no trace left. The author once 
picked a young skunk asleep from a basket of his brothers 
and sisters and removed the scent sacs without awakening him. 
The operation of disarming is described fully in another chap- 
ter. 

Yarding the Young. — When the young are about ten weeks 
old they may be transferred from the breeding pen to a yard. 
It is well to transfer the mother with them and let her remain 
with them for another month or so. Two litters may be put 
in a yard. The two mothers will usually not quarrel and will 
take up their abode with their respective progeny in dens in 
different parts of the yard. If this were done too early when 
the young were very young there would be loss due to steal- 
ing each other's young. 

Two litters and two mothers will make about fifteen or six- 
teen in a yard, and when the mothers are removed some time 
in August thirteen or fourteen young will be left in each 
yard. This is about as many as should grow up together for 

68 



MANAGEMENT OF YOUNG AND OLD 



safety. Feed the growing young twiee a day. They will be 
very active and display vigorous appetites. 

Marking the Young.—- The time of transfer from breeding 
pen to yard is the best time to mark the skunks for identifi- 
cation for all future time. By clipping a few toes or toe- 
nails almost any number can be expressed as explained in 
another chapter. Be sure to give the males odd numbers and 
the females even numbers as the number itself will thereby 
denote the sex. 

Guard Against Cannibalism,— -Now is the time they must 
be watched to see that no ugly one starts quarreling, which 
may lead to cannibalism, which he would soon teach his mates. 
At the first indication of quarreling separate the offender. 
The risk is too great to let him remain. He may grow up 
alcne to be a fine specimen and a useful individual. Well 
fed adult skunks are much less likely to cannibalize than the 
young, growing stcck, which are full of animal spirits and 
looking for trouble much the same as the young of the genus 
Homo. Some have advocated cutting the long or canine teeth 
of a quarrelsome skunk, and this may be helpful, although 
the author has never found it necessary. 

Watch Stock Carefully.— As the young are growing watch 
them carefully. Be sure they always have fresh water. Keep 
the dens sanitary. Spray clens with germicide. Watch for 
worms and guard against them. Keep the young skunks free 
from lice, fleas and mange by dipping them in a good sheep 
dip early in August, September and October, provided a 
warm day for drying is available. See chapter on diseases 
and pests. Give the skunks plenty of exercise. This may 
be managed by placing several boxes or even barrels on end 
in the yards and putting food on top of these at feeding time. 
This will make them climb, and they will get in the habit of 

69 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



getting up on the boxes every time they come out of their 
dens. It is good exercise. While there should be a half 
dozen good permanent dens in each yard it is well also to give 
them summer shelters, as can be done by turning a box upside 
down on the ground and knocking a hole in one end or side. 
Fill with soft hay. Tack a piece of tar paper over the top 
to shed rain. A few of these shelters will be appreciated, g.s 
they will be cool and airy without being draughty. The more 
places you give the growing skunks to go and the more things 
to do the better will be their condition and growth. 





ti 





Save Best Specimens for Breeding 



Picking Breeding Stock. — During the fall keep a sharp 
lookout for the finest, largest and best grade individuals for 
next year's breeding and gradually put them into yards by 
themselves. This will simplify the sorting at market time in 

70 



MANAGEMENT OF YOUNG AND OLD 



the winter. By winter the young will have reached market- 
able size and a skin will not be worth enough more to justify 
keeping through another year. 

Up to this time, that is, January first, no separation of 
male and females has been made. 

In the fall and early winter when the pelts are prime and 
the skunks have their growth a careful selection will be made 
of the females and males to carry over for the next spring's 
breeding, and all other stock will be killed and carefully 
skinned for market. At this time the skunks have a large 
amount of fat which may be rendered. It has a market value 
of about $1.25 per gallon wholesale and smaller quantities 
may be sold at higher rates to druggists. There is some de- 
mand for the scent fluid, mostly for animal baits for the trap 
line and to some extent in medicine. It may be preserved by 
starting with a bottle half full of ethyl alcohol and emptying 
the contents of the sacs into the bottle until full or the sacs 
may be dropped bodily into the bottle of alcohol. 

Now that the surplus stock has been disposed of there will 
be abundant room for the breeding stock to be saved. The 
young females are put into yards by themselves, six in a yard. 
The old females are likewise grouped six in a yard. From 
here on the proceedings will be as outlined from the begin- 
ning of the present chapter. It is well to mate young females 
to two or three-year-old males and young males to two or 
three-year-old females. Two or three-year-old males and 
females may be mated together but it is best not to mate young 
males and females. 

It is hardly worth while keeping stock beyond the third 
breeding season. Mate them while in the prime of life unless 
here and there an animal is especially valuable for breeding 
purposes. In that case he may be kept and bred a few years 
longer. 



71 



CHAPTER XI 

Breeding — Simple and Advanced 

There may be said to be two rules for breeding or for 
mating domestic animals for the purpose of propagation. 

First rule : Do not inbreed but practice selection. 
Second rule: Inbreed and practice selection. 

These rules being contradictory are bewildering to most 
people who have not given the subject of genetics any special 
attention. Both rules have their use. In either case the 
greatest care must be practiced in selecting sound, well de- 
veloped specimens for mating. 

The first rule, do not inbreed, applies to a simple condition 
of affairs and is a very good rule to follow in such case. That 
is, if it be desired merely to increase the number of a group of 
animals or breed of animals the characters of which are fixed 
and in every way of the desired type, then it is proper to avoid 
mating the closely related. In this case the best specimens 
would be selected and mated, avoiding weaklings. This would 
be a simple rule which any one could follow and the avoidance 
of inbreeding would tend to maintain good physical stamina 
of the breed. 

When, however, a new breed is to be established by main- 
taining and fixing the characters found in a certain individual 
and not possessed by others, then the second rule, inbreed, 
must be followed. In this process mother may be mated to son 
or brother to sister, the whole scheme, however, being intelli- 
gently directed by practicing most careful selection. In this 
way undesirable characters may be discarded and desired char- 
acters retained. 

72 



BREEDING— SIMPLE AND ADVANCED 



Dr. J. A. Detlefsen, Professor of Genetics, College of Agri- 
culture at the University of Illinois, states that he recently 
saw in Philadelphia the 18th generation of rats which had 
been inbred brother to sister ever since the beginning of the 
experiment and that they were the largest and most vigorous 
rats he had ever seen, one female having a litter of seventeen. 
This illustrates what can be done b} r inbreeding if selection is 
practiced. This the breeder must do by all means and it is 
well at the same time to keep a record of the size of litters 
and notice the health of the animals and early maturing quali- 
ties, as these points can be controlled by proper selection. In 
fact, constructive breeding of pure bred live stock has often 
been attended by a high degree of inbreeding. 

Mendel's Law is the name given to a regular system which 
certain important phenomena of heredity are observed to fol- 
low. This law, first worked out by Mendel, with reference to 
plants (garden peas), applies in exactly the same force to 
animals, as has repeatedly been corroborated with various 
species of late years. 

It is not possible in this chapter to go into the theory of 
germ cells to account for the results but the simplest illustra- 
tion of the law may be briefly stated. Certain characters are 
said to be dominant or recessive. A pure bred black guinea 
pig is dominant with respect to an albino (pure white) guinea 
pig. If the two (called the parental generation) are mated 
their progeny (called the first filial generation) are all found 
to be black and to look just like the black parent. However, 
they are cross-bred and possess power for both white and 
black which will find expression in their offspring in ac- 
cordance with definite rules. 

If a brother and sister of the first filial generation are 
mated, in each four of their offspring (called the second filial 
generation) three will be black and one will be an albino of 
pure breed in the long run. The three black individuals are, 

73 



SKUNK CULTURE FOE PROFIT 



however, not all alike from the standpoint of heredity. One 
of them on test will be found to be a black of pure breed and 
the remaining two will be found to be cross-breds exactly like 
all of the first filial generation. These results are of course 
averages. 

Tims in the second generation from the parent stock we 
have produced twenty-five per cent of the pure breed of each 
of the original parents. In this case the white is said to be 
recessive as it did not appear in the first filial generation. 

Had one of the cross-breds been mated to the pure-bred 
white parent, then half the progeny would have been black, 
but really all cross-breds, and the other half would have been 
pure-bred albinos. 

But, had one of the cross-breds been mated to the pure- 
bred black parent, all of the progeny would have been black, 
half being pure bred black and half cross-breds. 

Thus it is apparent that if in the case of the skunk we 
could obtain a completely black specimen we could in all 
probability by a system of mating and inbreeding finally 
produce not only more completely black skunks, but com- 
pletely black skunks of pure breed that would breed true. 

It is necessary to watch very carefully the physical stamina 
when inbreeding as weaknesses thereby have a tendency to 
become exaggerated. It may be necessary to out-cross to re- 
gain size or shape even after a certain desired character has 
been fixed, but this is easily done and the return to pure breed 
made later with new blood less closely related. 

When several characters instead of only two as in the 
above example are involved, the work is more complex, but 
the rules are mathematical and the results can be predicted 
if all the factors are known. 

If further study is sought along these lines the reader is 
referred to any modern work on genetics, such as ' ' Heredity, ' ' 
by Wm. E. Castle. (D. Appleton & Co., New York.) 

74 



BREEDING— SIMPLE AND ADVANCED 



Color is not the only character that conforms to Mendel's 
Law, which applies equally to qualities such as color-pattern, 
length of hair, fineness of hair and physical characters such 
as size and shape. If a breeder possesses recourses of time, 
patience, and capital, he may combine and mould qualities to 
his liking. 



CHAPTER XII 
Marking and Pedigree 

It is desirable to be able to mark skunks for identification 
so that records may be kept of important matings. The value 
of this in connection with a line of advanced breeding is espe- 
cially important. Without some system of marking skunks 
it is practically impossible even to know their ages, due to the 
many transfers that will be made from one yard to another. 

The system of marking devised by the author consists of 
clipping off certain claws or toes so that they will not be re- 
produced. The missing claws stand for the figures assigned to 
their location and practically any number may thus be repre- 
sented. If not more than one claw is clipped from any one 
foot the largest number that may be represented is No. 5,959. 
but if the removal of two claws from each foot is permitted, 
then the highest number to be represented becomes No. 45, 
904,590. The clipping can be done at any time, but preferably 
when young. The foot should be dipped in a 5% solution of 
carbolic acid just before and just after clipping. 

Mr. Ernest Thompson Seton in referring to this system of 
the author remarks that "even the track of an animal so 
marked will give its number." 

Now the mere number designation given the skunk to be 
recorded in the breeder's records may easily be made to tell 
a considerable amount of useful information. If odd numbers 
are given the males and even numbers to females the sex is 
known at a glance by the number itself. Thus 1, 7, 825, etc., 
will refer to males and 2, 14, 3726, etc., to females. 

If the grade is placed after the number and then the year 
of birth added a very complete entry number is afforded for 
the record. Thus 4738AA15 means "skunk No. 4738, female, 
grade AA, born in year 1915. ' ' 

76 



MARKING AND PEDIGREE 



SKUNK MATING AND PEDIGREE CHART 



BREEDER'S NAME 



DATE OF MATING 



BREEDERS ADDRESS 
YARD NUMBER 




DATE YOUNG BORN 



NUMBER OF YOU NO 



AAA AA A B 



DO ODD 



mm 



Use one chart for each mating and litter as follows: 

Show grade of every Skunk recorded, young as well as old. 

Record all males on dark and females on light spaces. 

Record young in bulls-eye with sexes properly divided. 

Record mated pair in ring next to bulls-eye. 

Record lineal ancestors of mated pair as far back as known. 

The following system for recording Skunks is recommended: 

59AAA10 means— serial No. 59, male, completely black, born 1910. 

74 All means— serial No. 74, female, body black, born 1911. 

The odd serial numbers indicate males, the even numbers females , 

Keep this record. Mail exact duplicate to 

SKUNK DEVELOPMENT BUREAU 
Box 554 Chicago, III. 



77 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



A SIMPLE METHOD OF MARKING SKUNKS 

A S 6 ? 



S 



LEFT 

FRONT 

FOOT 



LEFT 
HIND 
FOOT 




EXAMPLES:- 



# '//, v<* '*< 

7 20 

\*U ///* N^ X % 



#> 1.,, 



48 



**» 



377 

N \\* Uli 



RIGHT 
HIND 
FOOT 



**• '*/ 



55/6 



The above diagram shows the twenty claws of a Skunk viewed 
from above as it stands on the ground. 

By removing not more than one claw from any foot and read- 
ing in direction of the arrows almost any number from 1 to 5959 
may be represented. 

Cut the claw far enough back so it will not grow again. 

Do not use any number which would take two claws from any 
foot. 

The examples given under the diagram illustrate the system. 

Each breeder has his own ideas and systems in these matters, 
but the above is the simplest method of marking which the 
Bureau has found. 



Special notes as to yards, feeding, coloring, origin, disposition 
price obtained, etc., may be placed below. 




MARKING AND PEDIGREE 



SKUNK MATING AND PEDIGREE CHART 



BREEDER'S NAME 



DATE OF MATING 



BREEDER'S ADDRESS 
YARD NUMBER 




DATE YOUNG BORN 



NUMBER or YOUNG 



These charts have been specially designed for the 
benefit of the Breeder and of the Bureau as follows: 

That the Breeder may easily keep a record of his work and see 

the valne of scientific breeding. 

That copies of records may be obtained from the Bureau in case 

Breeder's records are lost or destroyed. 

That the Breeder may give a pedigree when selling breeding stock. 

That the Bureau may refer inquiries for stock direct to Breeders. 

That the Bureau may compile reliable statistics on color heredity. 

That by properly mating black to black a pure breed of completely 

black Skunks may be established. 

Note that grades A, B, C and D correspond to the commercial 

grades of black, short stripe, narrow stripe and broad stripe or 

grades No. 1, 2, 3 and 4. For breeding purposes AA (all black 

except white spot on head— no forks>and AAA (completely black) 

have been added. While commercially AA and AAA would be 

graded Black or No. 1 just the same as A, they are of much 

greater value for breeding. Grades DD (back solid white) and 

DDD (completely white) form the other extreme. 

MAIL THIS TRUE COPY OF CHART TO 

Skunk Development Bureau 

Chicago, III. 
79 



Box 554 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



The grades AAA, AA, A, B, C, D, DD, DDD have been 
fully explained in the chapter on Classification, and these 
designations should be used by all breeders as they have been 
adopted and are in general use in the grading and sale of 
breeding stock. 

To illustrate the complete system of marking by clipping 
the claws and of recording matings and pedigrees of skunks 
the charts designed by the author in 1911, and now distributed 
free by the Skunk Development Bureau to all breeders in such 
quantities as they wish to use them, is here reproduced. 

The target diagram has a logical as well as a convenient 
and practical motive. The bull's-eye denotes the young at 
which the ancestors naturally aim. The young of a mating are 
recorded according to sex in the bull's-eye. The parents are 
recorded in the space lying next to the bull's-eye. In each case 
the males should be recorded in the dark and the females in 
the light spaces as the sex is then shown by a glance at the 
chart. 

If the grandparents of the young on the father's side are 
known they should be recorded and likewise on the mother's 
side. In fact record all the known ancestry on a chart for each 
litter after it is born. These records are of great value to the 
breeder in teaching him the result of various matings. Some- 
times a very good looking animal will not transmit his grade 
to his young even when bred to an equally good looking mate. 
The old saying "handsome is as handsome does" is the real 
test. An individual which breeds true is the desired result. 
Sometimes a good looking individual will breed very erratic- 
ally and is very disappointing. The chart records show which 
are the good or bad. 

It is often desirable to be able to give authentic pedigree 
charts when selling valuable skunks or when showing them at 
exhibitions in competition. 



80 



CHAPTER XIII 



Disarming 

A large number of breeders now remove the scent sacs as 
a regular thing. It is not necessary, however, for a breeder to 
disarm his skunks when raising them in quantities for the 
fur market unless he prefers. The work does not take much 
time as an expert can disarm from seventy to one hundred 
young skunks in a day and not lose a single animal. The opera- 
tion is equally successful on old skunks but takes somewhat 
longer. Some people have reported that they have lost a 
portion of the old skunks after operating but this is not the 
author's experience. If skunks are to be shipped as live stock 
they must be disarmed in accordance with the regulations of 
the Express Companies. 

Some people have argued that the quality of the fur was 
injured by the removal of the scent sacs and others deny the 
claim. It is a fact that some skunks will not have bright pelts 
at the time the skins should be marketed but this may be 
traced to other causes such as lack of food variety or intestinal 
worms which sap the vitality. 

Several systems have been described for disarming skunks. 
The oldest attempt was to sever the discharge ducts on line G 
of Figure Nos. 1 and 2 and leave the sacs of scent fluid in 
place, the ends of the ducts healing over and sealing the fluid. 
This operation was performed by Dr. J. M. Warren and 
described by him in Vol. 3, page 175 of the Boston Natural 
History Society's Proceedings (1846) and the account is 
quoted by Dr. Elliot Coues in Fur Bearing Animals (U. S. 
Geological Survey, Misc. Pub. No. 8, Year 1877). This method 
is really more difficult than removing the sacs entirely and 

81 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



has not been performed often enough to reveal its practica- 
bility and efficacy on a large scale. 

An operation has been described which consists in cutting 
down to the sac, lifting it and cutting away a part of it and 
letting the other part return and remain. The wounds do not 
heal readily and pus and death frequently follow. This opera- 
tion is not effective even if the parts should heal for the skunk 
can scent quite well although the amount of scent fluid is 
lessened. The author has had some very sad and odoriferous 
experiences in handling skunks which were operated on in this 
manner. 

Methods have also been described consisting in performing 
operations in the rectum, such as snipping off the discharge 
papillae and trusting that the wounds will heal shut or in at- 
tempting to cut around the papilla in its cartillaginous base 
and then drawing out the duct and sac through the opening 
thus made. But these operations are not practical as the 
former is of doubtful reliability and the second of considerable 
surgical difficulty. 

The operation in general practice at the present time and 
which the author has used since 1894 (see introduction) con- 
sists in cutting down to the sacs, raising them, clamping the 
discharge ducts so no scent may escape and then severing the 
ducts close to the rectal wall but without injury to the rectum 
or to the sphincter muscle. 

The following descriptions and directions were written by 
the author, from years of his experience, in October 1911 and 
have received much publicity through the Skunk Development 
Bureau of Chicago. The details of each stage of the work 
are given very minutely so that the operation may be easily 
comprehended and performed even by an absolute novice: 



82 



DISARMING 



DESCRIPTION OF THE SCENT GLANDS OF THE SKUNK 

The anal glands which are possessed also by other members of the 
weasel family are developed in the skunk to such a wonderful degree as 
to constitute an effective means of defense. They are not related in any 
way to the genito-urinary system either in location or function. They 
are the same in both sexes. 

The scent fluid which is the special secretion of these glands is 
contained in two sacs located beneath the skin, one on each side of the 
vent. Each sac is embedded in a powerful, gizzard-like, muscular en- 
velope, the contraction of which discharges the scent fluid. Fig. 1 and 
Fig. 2 show general location and form. 

Within the rectum just beyond the sphincter muscle which ordi- 
narily keeps the vent closed are two papillae from which the scent is 
discharged. Each papilla is connected with one of the scent sacs by a 
discharge duct. 

Ordinarily the discharge papillae are not visible, but when the skunk 
discharges the scent fluid the tail is raised and doubled close along the 
back, the vent is relaxed and turned outward to such an extent that the 
papillae become external and from them the scent is discharged and 
directed with remarkable accuracy. 

The skunk takes great care not to get any of the scent on its tail 
or fur and the slightly skunky odor which fur garments sometimes have 
is usually the result of carelessness in killing or skinning the animal. 

When held by the tail with head hanging down and with tail and 
backbone in a straight line the skunk cannot control the muscles which 
evolve the rectum and discharge the scent. Care must be taken that the 
skunk does, not twist or climb upward. It should be held low to keep 
its interest centered on the ground Avhich it will strive to reach. 

DIRECTIONS FOR REMOVING THE SCENT SACS FROM LIVE SKUNKS WITHOUT 
THE ESCAPE OF ANY OF THE SCENT FLUID 

This operation is simple and may be readily learned by anyone who 
will follow these instructions carefully. No anaesthetic is needed. 

1. The beginner should dress in old clothes or overalls and as a 
precaution should wear goggles to protect the eyes in case of accident. 
An old hat or a paper sack worn as a cap will protect the hair. With 
these safeguards the learner feels perfectly at ease and therefore the 
chance of accident is much lessened while acquiring proficiency. 

2. A heavy plank supported on two wooden buckets makes a good 

83 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



operating table. Straddling this plank the operator and his assistant sit 
facing each other. 

3. The proper instruments are as follows: 

1 nickel plated scalpel (knife). 

1 nickel plated tenaculum ( hook ) . 

1 nickel plated sound (probe). 

1 pair nickel plated special extracting forceps. 

1 pair nickel plated automatic clamping forceps. 

2 pair goggles (worn only by beginners as safeguard). 



A- scent SAC 

B- MUSCULAR ENVELOPE 
C- DISCHARGE DUCT 
D -DISCHARGE PAPILLA 
E-VeNT'(R£CTU^ 



F- WALL OF RECTUM 
G- CUT TO SEVER DUCT 
H -INCISION TO EXPOSE SAC 
- RECTUM 
"MIL 




FIG. I X-RAY VIEW OF SCENT SYSTEM 

4. Several pieces of clean white cloth about three inches square 
should be provided. 

5. The instruments should be boiled about ten minutes in clear 
water to insure cleanliness. During the operation they should be kept 
in a saucer containing a five per cent solution of carbolic acid which 
may be placed on a box within easy reach of the operator's right hand. 

6. The operator first takes his seat and spreads a gunnysack or 
burlap across the plank just in front of him. 

7. The assistant then brings the skunk, carrying it by the tail with 
his right hand. His left hand should grasp the nape of the neck to help 
keep the head down, for the backbone and tail must at all times be kept 
in a straight line. 

8. The assistant now, by means of his hold on the nape of the neck, 
brings the skunk into a horizontal position (keeping backbone and tail 
in a straight line) and lays it belly downward on the gunnysack with 
head toward the operator. 



84 



DISARMING 



9. The operator wraps the gunnysack snugly about the skunk 
while the assistant releases his hold on the nape of the neck. 

10. The assistant now immediately places the forefinger of his left 
hand with light pressure over the vent, while the operator proceeds to 
turn the skunk on its back, keeping the gunnysack wound firmly about 
the animal. 

11. Now only the tail and butt of the skunk are exposed to view. 
The gunnysack covers all four feet and head, so there can be no scratch- 
ing or biting. 

12. The operator brings his knees together over the plank and 
thereby holds the skunk. This enables him to have both hands free. 

13. The operator now relieves the assistant by placing the fore- 
finger of his own left hand over the vent. With the thumb of the same 
hand he locates the scent gland just to the right of the vent. The gland 




A-SCENT SAC E-VENT I-RECTUM 

B-MUSCULAR ENVELOPE F-WALL OF RECTUM K-SPHINCTER MUSCLE 
(-DISCHARGE -DUCT O-CUT TO SEVER DUCT ™™ C "™£"1 
D-DISCHAR&E PAPILLA H- ORIGINAL INCISION L ~ 5 t H rougH INCISION 

FIG. 2 SECTIONAL VIEW OF SCENT SYSTEM 

is easily recognized as feeling hard and round like a marble beneath the 
skin abreast of the vent, neither forward nor backward from the vent. 

14. Having the thumb and forefinger spread about an inch and a 
quarter apart the operator now squeezes the gland tight enough to draw 
the skin firmly over it. His right hand is free. 

15. With a piece .of cloth dipped in the carbolic solution he moist- 
ens the fur and. skin held between his thumb and finger. 

16. With the scalpel, starting at least three-eighths of an inch 
from the vent so as not to injure the sphincter muscle which encircles 
the vent, the operator makes an incision through the skin about five- 
eighths of an inch long directly over the center of the scent gland in a 
straight line with the vent, as shown at H in Fig. 1. 

17. The incision is now carefully deepened until the firm, gizzard- 

85 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



like envelope in which the sac lies is reached. The beginner is likely to 
mistake this firm, muscular envelope for the sac itself, because the 
envelope is lighter in color than the tissues previously cut. 

18. He now proceeds more gradually to cut through the muscular 
envelope as shown at H in Fig. 2, taking light strokes with the scalpel 
and cutting only a slight depth each time. 

19. If the muscular envelope cannot be held firmly enough by the 
pressure of thumb and finger so the knife will cut well the muscle may 
be hooked with the tenaculum and thus held by the assistant while the 
operator cuts. 

20. Soon a small white bead appears in the bottom of the incision 
as shown at L in Fig. 2. There is no mistaking this, as it is the white 
sac itself pushing through a very small opening which has been made 
through the envelope. 

21. This opening is now carefully increased by turning the dull 
side of the scalpel toward the protruding sac and cutting away from it, 
first on one side and then on the other. 

22. The sac keeps pushing outward more and more until it is about 
the size of a pea. The cutting is then stopped. 

23. Now by means of the extracting forceps the sac is gradually 
lifted by raising it a little on one side and then on the other. The object 
is to work the sac through the small opening without tearing it by too 
violent a pull and without lacerating it by gripping too hard in the 
forceps. The proper way is to grasp lightly and pull gently here and 
there at its base. 

24. When half the sac has been worked through the opening the 
sac suddenly pops up out of the gizzard-like envelope. 

25. The sac is now lifted carefully by the extracting forceps to see 
that it is all clear and attached only by the discharge duct. 

26. If any slight muscular tissue is found clinging to the sac it 
may be torn away with the sound or tenaculum or carefully cut with the 
scalpel. 

27. The duct, which alone holds the sac, is now clamped in the 
automatic forceps as near the sac as feasible, as shown in Fig. 3. 

28. The assistant now holds these forceps and thus supports the 
sac so the operator can see the duct clearly. 

29. The operator then carefully examines the duct preparatory to 
cutting it. He must be very sure not to cut it too close to the rectum 
or he will cut a round hole in the rectal wall, because even a slight pull 



86 



DISARMING 



on the duct draws the discharge papilla outward and brings with it the 
wall of the rectum wrapped about the papilla so as to look like a 
continuation of the duct. See Fig. 3. 

30. By feeling carefully with the sound or the dull side of the 
scalpel the end of the papilla nearest the sac is readily discerned by its 
firmness or hardness. 

31. The duct is now severed with the scalpel at a point a little 
way from the papilla, as shown at G in Fig. 3. 

32. The sac is now held free in the clamping forceps and not a 
particle of the scent fluid has escaped. 

33. The operator then proceeds in the same manner to locate and 
remove the second sac. 

34. The incisions should be wiped out with a piece of cloth with 
carbolic solution and never need any further attention. In a few days 
not even the scars can be found. 



POSITION OF AUTOMATIC 
FORCEPS clamping DUCT. 




A -SCENT SAC E-VENT I - RECTUM JQ J 

B- MUSCULAR ENVELOPE F-WALL OF RECTUM J-(SFE Fi& i) 
C-DISCHAR&E DUCT G-CUT TO SEVER DUCT K~ SPHINCTER MUSCLE 
D-DI5CHAR&E PAPILLA H-0R/&INAL INCISION 



ENCIRCLING VENT 



FI&.3 SAC COMPLETELY WITH-DRAWN 



35. The operation is performed most easily when the animal is 
not too old or fat. Any time from one-third to two-thirds growth is a 
good age for the work. 

36. With a little practice the complete operation of removing both 
scent sacs should not take over five minutes or skunks may be handled 
at rate of ten or twelve per hour. 

Attention may be called to the fact that sometimes with 
either young or old skunks the sac does not come out readily 
when pulled. This may be found due to a very thin and in- 

87 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



visable skin, film or tissue covering the sac. In that case 
lay the scalpel flat against the sac and pick away at it with the 
point which will thus lift and tear the film. The probe can 
then be slipped under the film to tear it aside. The film is 
thoroughly anchored to the muscular envelope but the sac is 
free and loose inside the film. 

Beginners are sometimes timid in handling old skunks and 
have asked for directions for giving anaesthetic. An old skunk 
can be emptied from a box trap into a burlap bag without 
scenting. He is then confined closely in one corner by twisting 
the sac. A wad of cotton or rag with a teaspoonful of chloro- 
form is put in a funnel or a tin can which is then held over 
the skunk's head so that he is obliged to breathe the chloro- 
form through the burlap. If he turns his head under so his 
nose does not project into the funnel his head may be held up 
and directed into the funnel by the fingers of both hands 
under the chin. As soon as the body relaxes, remove the 
funnel and roll the skunk from the sack and proceed at once 
with the operation. Do not wait until he is entirely inert as 
he will then never wake up. If during the operation he livens 
up too much the assistant should apply the chloroform funnel 
again for a little. 

By the time both sacs are out the skunk should be pretty 
well awake and able to walk off. See that he has plenty of air 
but if weather is cold give him a warm place indoors for a day 
or two as he will be susceptible to pneumonia until he is well 
over the effects left by the chloroform. 

A little variation in the technique may be practiced when 
an old skunk is under chloroform and this consists in inserting 
the finger in the rectum when the scent sac has been exposed 
and pushing it upward through the opening. It takes careful 
work to pull a large sac through the incision with forceps 
without breaking it and the pushing process mentioned will 
be found safe and considerably easier as the author has found. 



88 



CHAPTER XIV 
Diseases 

Under the heading of diseases will be included not only 
diseases properly so called but parasites and pests and other 
troubles which may be encountered at times. 

Cannibalism. — This trouble is more frequent among grow- 
ing skunks than among adults. It is sometimes caused by 
feeding meat too exclusively and then withdrawing it sud- 
denly from the diet. In most cases, however, some vicious or 
quarrelsome individual starts the trouble by nipping a com- 
rade, which is soon killed after blood is drawn. The other 
skunks in the yard are made partners in the feast and soon 
also learn to murder. 

To combat cannibalism keep careful watch and remove 
any vicious skunk at once. Do not overcrowd. Feed regu- 
larly at stated times and watch especially carefully when 
rations are reduced. A dozen or fifteen skunks in a yard 
forty to fifty feet square are as many as is safe even with 
careful watching. Provide plenty of dens, at least one to 
every two or three skunks. Each den should be large enough 
to hold four or five full grown skunks. 

Catarrh. — When skunks are exposed to drafts, as in poorly 
constructed dens, or when compelled to remain out in severe 
cold and storms they are likely to contract cold which some- 
what resembles croup. In severe cases death results. The 
skunk breathes hard with a wheezing sound. Thick, yellow 
mucous or pus forms in the throat, nasal passages and jaws, 
and the eyes are bloodshot. Early stages may be treated by 
placing the skunk in a well protected cage and frequently 
spraying a 1% solution of creolin through the nostrils by 
means of an aspirator. Or the skunk may frequently be sub- 

89 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



jected to creolin vapor for periods of five to ten minutes at 
a time, repeating according to the severity of the case. To 
do this easily, provide a box one foot square and 24 inches 
deep. Place a floor of wire netting in the box ten inches from 
the top. Arrange a cover for the top of the box and a side 
'door in the lower compartment. Shut the skunk in the upper 
compartment and evaporate a 20% solution of creolin in the 
pan of an alcohol lamp made for the purpose. Bad cases are 
hardly worth bothering with, as much time is consumed and 
there is danger of infection to healthy animals. In bad cases 
kill the animal and disinfect all quarters with a 10% solution 
of lysol. Burn the body. The skin may be saved if prime. 
This disease has been called pneumonia and diphtheria by 
various observors. All agree that it is contagious. There is 
usually but little fever. 

Choking of Young. — Very young skunks at nursing age 
sometimes choke by the lodging of a short piece of coarse 
straw in the throat or in the roof of the mouth. Avoid using 
coarse or stiff bedding. Pliable, soft, dry grasses and leaves 
make much better bedding and do not break up into danger- 
ous short, stiff pieces. A young skunk in this plight will some- 
times slowly starve unless rescued. 

Colds. — See Catarrh. 

Diphtheria. — See Catarrh. (It is doubtful whether the 
cases of so-called diphtheria are not merely severe catarrhal 
infections.) 

Distemper. — This is a disease similar to canine distemper 
in many respects. It is highly contagious. It has caused large 
losses on some ranches. The symptoms are usually as follows : 
the skunks fail to eat; the eyes matter and swell; the skunk 
shivers; the fur on under side becomes wet with secretions 
which appear to deposit a yellowish scale on the skin accom- 
panied by a stifling odor ; the nose runs and after a few days 
forms a dry crust over the end; the victim keeps to its den 

90 



DISEASES 



but after a few days comes out, has convulsions and dies. A 
considerable degree of fever is always present with distem- 
per. If the temperature is found two or more degrees above 
the normal of approximately 98° as measured in rectum, dis- 
temper should be suspected. This is the usual course, but not 
all symptoms are present in all cases. While distemper is 
caused by definite bacilli, a large number of secondary infec- 
tions may result and in many cases death results from the sec- 
ondary conditions, such as pneumonia, caused by the weak- 
ened condition of the system. 

The main thing in case of distemper is to separate the 
infected animals at once from the healthy ones and disinfect 
the yards or pens and dens of all with 10% solution of lysol. In 
bad cases kill at once to avoid contagion. The attendant may 
carry the disease from sick to healthy animals by his hands 
or utensils if not properly disinfected. 

In mild cases, the skunks may be saved by placing in dis- 
infected quarters, protected from draughts, feeding nourish- 
ing food, such as warmed milk, and giving one to three grains 
(according to age) of quinine, or preferably aspirin, three 
times a day until fever is broken. Animals which recover are 
practically immune. 

This disease is easier to prevent than to cure. Keep all 
quarters sanitary by frequently disinfecting dens, etc. Keep 
dogs away from the yards and be especially careful not to 
admit any new skunks that are not perfectly healthy. Keep 
any new stock isolated for ten days before admitting and 
during this time destroy all vermin by dipping. 

Eating Young. — When a mother does this it is because she 
has been made extremely nervous about the time the young 
arrived or soon after. It may also in some cases be caused 
by not feeding a great enough variety of food, that is feeding 
a too one-sided or unbalanced ration. Feed plenty of meat 
just before young arrive. 

91 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



Fleas. — Dip as for mange. 

Hydrophobia. — It is possible for a skunk to develop hydro- 
phobia or rabies if bitten by a dog or other animal suffering 
from it, and in such case the animal should be killed at once. 
The author has never seen a case but there are some records 
of cases in the southwest where persons sleeping on the ground 
were bitten by rabid skunks and succumbed. This gave rise to 
false rumors that all skunk bites would cause hydrophobia, but 
such rumors are ridiculous. The author has in the last twenty- 
one years been bitten times too numerous to count, as have 
practically all other breeders. The bite of a healthy skunk 
is no more dangerous than the bite of any other healthy ani- 
mal, such as a cat or dog. The author, when bitten in the 
hand or fingers, first whirls his arm around several times in a 
wide circle to throw out all the blood possible from the wound 
which thus bleeds freely and is thereby cleaned. He then 
washes the wound with 5 % carbolic acid and in a few days it is 
all healed. In a case of a severe bite it would be well to have 
the wound dressed by a physician, or if this is not possible, he 
should cauterize the wound by probing to the bottom with a 
wooden tooth pick wound with cotton and dipped in iodine. 
If bitten by a rabid animal or one suspected of being rabid a 
person should consult medical aid at once. 

Lice. — Dip as described for mange. 

Mange. — Mange is caused by a small parasite working in 
the skin the same as in dogs, sheep, etc. The skunk by scratch- 
ing an infested part only aggravates the trouble and spreads 
the infection. Scales or even large scabs will form and the 
hair fall out. The best treatment is dipping the whole animal 
in a disinfectant solution. Any standard sheep dip is good 
for this purpose, or a 2% solution of lysol may be used. A 
bucket or deep tub should be nearly filled with the solution 
and the skunk dumped into it. He will keep to the surface by 
swimming but his head should be pushed under once or twice 

92 



DISEASES 



to be sure that every part of the skin is well soaked. It is well 
to rub the fur the wrong way while the skunk is immersed to 
be sure the dip penetrates through the under coat to the skin. 
Any place where the scab has been formed should be rubbed 
especially to work the dip in. One minute is enough to have 
the skunk in the dip. This work should be done on a warm 
day out of doors or it may be done at any time of the year 
indoors so that the skunk may be kept warm until dry. A 
basement near a furnace is a good place in cold weather. The 
dipping should be repeated in ten days to stamp out any re- 
maining parasites. In severe cases give third or fourth dip- 
ping. Two dippings ten days apart will rid the skunks also 
of lice, fleas or ticks. It takes the second dipping as the nits or 
eggs are not always destroyed with the first. The author has 
found that melting two pounds of petroleum jelly and thor- 
oughly mixing three ounces of lysol with it (stirring briskly 
until solid) makes an ointment that is very good for local 
treatment especially for winter use. It may be rubbed re- 
peatedly onto a scabby place. It may be used on skunks too 
young to dip in case of lice, etc. It is cheap to make. In a 
surprisingly short time a thrifty growth of new hair will 
appear. 

But by no means let any breeder omit the dipping. If 
done a few times in the summer the animals will have fine 
clean skins and fur in the winter. 

Pneumonia. — See colds. 

Protrusion of Rectum. — In young skunks on account of 
improper feeding and scouring the rectum will protrude 
somewhat. Due to the fact that the skunk at times will drag 
its rear portion on the ground the protruding rectum becomes 
infected and inflamed with much swelling externally. In bad 
cases the appearance is balloon like. This condition may be 
easily cured, if taken promptly in hand, by a slight surgical 
operation which can be learned by anyone. Stitches are re- 

93 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



quired, but no cutting. The exposed rectum and surrounding 
fur are first washed carefully with water containing enough 
permanganate of potash to give a rich purple color to the solu- 
tion. Then carefully return the protruding rectum. To keep 
it back in place sew with coarse stitches of silk floss around the 
rectum in the skin and fur until the starting point is reached. 
These stitches only go through the skin. Now draw the two 
ends of the floss so that the skin is puckered up around the 
rectum like the neck of a tobacco bag and tie. Do not draw 
tight enough to close the rectum entirely but so a small pencil 
might be inserted. Then feed the skunk on soft food for the 
next two or three days, after which the stitching may be re- 
moved from around the rectum and recovery is complete. It 
is well to disinfect the rectum once or twice a day with the 
permanganate solution by injecting with a small hard rubber 
syringe. Very slight cases may be cured by these injections 
and washing alone. 

Scouring. — This is a condition of looseness of the bowels 
or diarrhea. It is most frequently caused by feeding too 
much milk and starchy foods. Too much milk and white bread 
will sometimes cause it. The remedy is to change the diet, 
feeding coarse foods and more meat. 

Smothering of Young. — The mother, if frightened, will 
sometimes bury very young skunks, at or soon after birth, in 
the litter of the nest and suffocate them by lying on them. 
Keep away from the mother until the skunks are at least two 
weeks old. 

Sore Eyes in Young. — Drop in the eyes a 5% solution of 
argorol. 

Sore Throat. — See colds. 

Tail Rot. — Sometimes the tail of old skunks will swell to- 
ward the end. This is caused by handling them by the tail 
and thus slipping the skin and flesh on the bone or injuring 
the bone itself. Inflammation, pus and swelling result, and the 

94 



DISEASES 



tail should be amputated above the trouble. Sometimes the 
skunk will do the amputating itself, but possibly not before 
blood poisoning has set in. 

Learn to move your skunks about without lifting them by 
the tail. It is dangerous to the skunk in many cases and is 
usually unnecessary. 

Ticks. — Dip as for mange. 

Worms. — These are parasites with which almost all kinds 
of animals are sometimes troubled. Some worms are two or 
three inches long and wiry, and others are short. They are 
found in the stomach and intestines. Sometimes they come 
up into the throat. Occasionally tape worms are present. The 
worms can be expelled by giving, according to age, 1 to 10 
grains of powdered kamala on an empty stomach. Four doses, 
five days apart, are usually enough to rid a skunk of all worms. 
If a skunk looks unthrifty it is well to worm him as described 
above without delay. Many other purgatives may be used, but 
this and all others require considerable time. The best thing to 
do is to keep the skunks free from worms. For this purpose 
sulphate of iron may be given in drinking water every second 
day. Use one teaspoonful of this iron salt to four gallons of 
water. It is very cheap. It has been found valuable for 
chickens and hogs and equally so for skunks. On the days it 
is given see that the skunks have no other water to drink. 
Lime water may be given, using one tablespoonful of lime to 
one gallon of water. It is harmless and may be given continu- 
ously as drinking water. 



SUMMARY 



The prospective breeder must not get the impression that 
the skunk is a delicate animal or one difficult to raise merely 
because the author has enumerated possible disorders which 
sometimes occur and which should be guarded against. 

As a matter of fact the skunk is one of the most hardv 



95 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



of animals and of all fur bearers by far the easiest to raise. 
With intelligent attention no breeder should have any serious 
trouble, as forewarned is forearmed. Some writers have 
made the bald statement that the skunk has no diseases. This 
has mislead many and the disasters that have occurred have 
been largely due to such teachings. 

Let the breeder bear constantly in mind that prevention of 
trouble is better than any cure and while cures may in some 
cases be made it is in many cases not worth the time and labor 
required. The skunk is a plucky fellow and does not come 
around and tell his troubles early. He is naturally out of 
sight most of the time. "When he does come under observation 
his trouble has often advanced so far that it is economy to 
kill him not only to save time and labor but also to avoid con- 
tagion to the rest of the stock. 

It is not practicable to open up the dens every day or two, 
but if skunks that are usually out for their feed at a certain 
time do not respond as usual they should be investigated. If 
their food is not eaten up as usual or if their excreta are too 
soft or otherwise unnatural it will be well to see at once what 
the trouble is. Thus constant vigilance is the price of success. 

Too much emphasis cannot be laid on the necessity of 
wholesome food, fresh water, clean water dishes, sanitary 
conditions in general and especially the regular and thorough 
disinfection of the quarters and the systematic dipping of the 
stock for without disease germs and vermin there can be no 
trouble. 

Trouble from disease is usually least where not too great 
numbers are kept. Where vast numbers are cared for there 
is greater chance of carelessness at some point on the part of 
the attendants. The more successful breeders of dogs have 
usually been those with the fewer kennels with the resultant 
more thorough sanitation and individual attention. 



CHAPTER XV 



Killing, Skinning, Marketing 

When cold weather has arrived and the pelts are prime 
those skunks not to be kept over for breeders are killed and 
skinned and the pelts when dry sent to market or held for 
later sale. 

Killing. — This may be accomplished by a blow on the head 
in the case of disarmed skunks, but fully armed skunks will 
scent. In their case a blow on the back over the haunches will 
paralyze the nerves and muscles controlling scent discharge, 
and a second blow on the head must be immediately admin- 
istered. These methods bruise the skin to some extent. Drown- 
ing is humane and odorless, but it is some trouble to dry the 
fur after it. Never shoot, as it injures the fur and it will also 
usually cause scenting. 

Mr. Ernest Thompson Seton is a strong advocate of the 
lethal chamber, and his description of this with its advan- 
tages was given in his series of articles on "Fur Farming" in 
"Field and Stream" in 1914, but its use had been urged by 
him in 1909 in Vol. II of his memorable work, entitled ' ' Life 
Histories of Northern Animals" (Charles Scribners' Sons, 
New York). The lethal chamber or the execution compart- 
ment may be any box made with air-tight joints and provided 
with air-tight cover. The skunk is placed in the box with a 
cloth or wad of cotton saturated with enough chloroform to 
cause death within a short time. A teaspoonful of chloroform 
is plenty to kill a skunk if he is closely enough confined, but it 
is well to double the quantity if there is waste space in the 
box. If an adjustable partition is provided in the box with felt 
packing around the edges any number of skunks may be killed 

97 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



at once, from one or two up to the full size of the box, and 
waste space is thus avoided and much chloroform saved. 

Ordinary illuminating gas may be used if available and is 
cheaper. It may be admitted by means of a tube passed 
through a small hole in the box. Hydrocyanic acid gas acts 
rapidly, but on account of its deadliness is rather dangerous to 
handle. The lethal chamber is strongly recommended in what- 
ever form it may be used, as it is humane, the fur is not in- 
jured and no scenting occurs. There is no death struggle. 

Skinning. — The skins must be cased ; that is, they must not 
be slit open lengthwise, but must be turned off over the head 
as a glove is turned inside out in peeling it off the hand. Start 
cutting from the center of the sole of each hind foot and slit 
along the back of each hind leg to the vent. Cut completely 
around the vent. Slit down the underside of the fleshy part 
of the tail and skin out this portion. Then pull toward the end 
of the tail with a split stick placed over the skinned portion 
and the remaining bony portion of the tail will slip out whole. 
Turn the skin off the body of the skunk over the head. Skin 
the face clear to the nose. Cut no holes anywhere. Even the 
claws may be left on with careful work. 

Stretching, Fleshing and Drying. — The skin as turned off 
the body is wrong side out. Leave it so and draw it onto a 
board, having all edges smooth and rounded so as not to injure 
the pelt. Have a large supply of boards on hand, some under- 
size for smaller skins and some over size ones for larger skins. 
The shape should be as shown in the cut. Do not stretch the 
skin much, as this injures it and reduces the value. Tack to 
board on each side of the tail and at both edges of the board. 
A couple more tacks on the belly side of the board, making 
six tacks in all, is usually enough to hold it firmly in place. 
Split the tail at the bottom for drainage. Some split the tail 
all the way down. 

98 



KILLING, SKINNING, MARKETING 



Now, with a knife not too sharp, remove as much flesh from 
the skin as possible. This is called fleshing. Do not work so 
close to the skin as to hurt it, as it is better to leave a little 
surplus flesh on than to do that. Never rub salt or other 
preservative onto the skin, except a little salt may be rubbed 
onto the tail portion and put into the tail. The tail bristles 




STKETCHINC- 

BOARO 



STRETCHED 
SKIN 




are used for manufacturing brushes. A good stretcher may 
also be made from a piece of heavy wire, bent to conform to 
the outline of a stretching board. 

When the skin is stretched and fleshed hang it to dry in 
the shade and breeze if this is feasible. Never use artificial 
heat and do not hang in the sun. When dry it may be removed 
from the board. 

Shipping. — For shipment pile the skins and wrap snugly 
in tough paper and tie firmly with tag containing shipper's 

99 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



name and address attached. Then wrap again with burlap, 
the edges of which should be sewed down to make a secure 
package. Attach address tag of the raw fur house to which 
sale is to be made and ship via express. 

All raw fur houses are glad to send their quotation sheets 
on request to anyone interested. 



100 



CHAPTER XVI 

Shipping Live Skunks 

The largest profits are now and probably for some years 
to come will be in the sale of breeding stock. This means that 
the skunks must be shipped alive. The following is from the 
Hunter-Trader-Trapper (of Columbus, Ohio) of June, 1913, 
issue : 

"SHIPPING LIVE SKUNKS BY EXPRESS" 

"In the last few years, with the increase of interest and 
activity in fur farming, the express companies have been 
obliged to give serious attention to the matter of transporting 
the furbearers. Most of these animals come under the gen- 
eral classification of 'animals not otherwise specified' in the 
tariff regulations of the companies. In other words, no special 
mention or provision is made for them as in the case of horses, 
cows, dogs, etc. 

"Skunk in the past have been transported by the express 
companies usually at regular merchandise rates, and the occa- 
sional shipment of these animals when well caged and protected 
did not arouse any great comment. When the shipments of 
skunk began to assume greater proportion damage to other 
express matter resulted occasionally due to the discharge of 
the scent fluid when the skunks were alarmed or roughly han- 
dled. Some of the express companies therefore began to object 
to receiving skunks and sometimes a shipper would have his 
consignment refused even though nicely crated and protected. 
"Finally the express companies took concerted action and 
passed a joint and official amendment with the concurrence of 
the Interstate Commerce Commission, reading as follows: 
'SKUNKS— Refuse.' This ruling was published in the Offi- 
cial Classification of all express companies and became ef- 

101 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



fective April 1st, 1913. This made it impossible to ship live 
skunks by express after that date. 

' ' There was naturally a protest to the express companies by 
skunk breeders, and by those accustomed to shipping live 
skunks. The express companies, however, maintained that 
their action had been taken after mature deliberation and 
they could not afford to assume the risk of contaminating other 
express matter and liability of damage suits. In other words, 
they would entertain no proposition involving the shipment 
of skunk in their natural state of defense. They finally agreed, 
however, to accept for shipment skunks from which the anal 
glands had been removed. The ruling on skunks was there- 
fore with the approval of the Interstate Commerce Commis- 
sion changed to read, effective May 20, 1913, as follows: 
'Skunks — Refuse, unless scent sacs are removed.' 

"All the express companies concur in this ruling, even the 
Canadian companies. This means that shipments of live 
skunks with scent sacs removed can be made between all points 
in the United States or Canada. The removal of the scent 
sacs is easiest at the age of five weeks, although it can be done 
at any time. It does not seem to injure the skunks in any 
way or to interfere with their breeding. 

In shipping skunks from the United States to Canada 
there is no duty, but, in shipping from Canada to the United 
States the duty is 20% on the invoice price." 

It is therefore only skunks from which the scent sacs have 
been removed that will be accepted by express companies for 
shipment. 

In shipping, skunks are necessarily confined and must not 
be crowded together. The safest way is to give each skunk a 
separate compartment. 

A shallow box makes a good shipping cage. Half the top 
should be nailed on and the rest of the top covered with l 1 /^- 
inch wire netting. A water can must be fastened in a corner 

102 



SHIPPING LIVE SKUNKS 



directly beneath the netting so it may be filled with water 
en route. An empty tomato or corn can is good and it should 
be placed high enough so that the skunk can not foul it. It 
must be firmly fastened by nailing at the top and wiring or 
cleating toward the bottom. Place a low partition or curb 
across the middle of the box to form a nest beneath the covered 
part and supply soft, dry grass for nesting. In all cases mark 
plainly, "GIVE FRESH WATER DAILY EN ROUTE." 
If the journey is not over 1,000 miles enough bread and a few 
prunes or sweet apples may be put in the shipping cage to 
last 24 to 48 hours. If the distance is greater than this, nail 
a small cloth sack of bread to the cage and mark, "FEED 
BREAD DAILY EN ROUTE. " It is well to start the skunks 
with a meat feed but, do not put enough meat in with them 
to spoil before eaten. 

It is recommended that breeders who ship live stock have 
their own shipping tags as much time and labor is thus 
saved in making shipments. To illustrate this the tag used 
by the Skunk Development Bureau is here reproduced. 



live: skunks 

With All Scent Sacs Removed 
To 

Via 

¥H M r>^^¥^T A 1WTT Give Fresh Water and Feed 
IJYlr \Jt\ 1 AIN 1 I Bread dail y Enroute. (Bread 

Accompanies Shipment.) 

FROM 

SKUNK DEVELOPMENT BUREAU 

Address Box 554 Chicago, 111., U. S. A. 

Breeding Stations near Chicago and other points in the U. S. 

103 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



Skunks are sold F. 0. B. shipping point and the purchaser 
pays the express charges. Payment is usually made one-half 
cash with order and balance C. 0. D. However, in some cases 
complete payment is sent with order and in some cases all is 
C. 0. D. as the terms are a matter of agreement between the 
seller and buyer. 









n. '°£iSie*& 




Enroute to Sussex, England 

The above illustration shows a shipment of skunks starting 
to the express station at Lombard, 111., in the Spring of 1915, 
to connect at New York with the Steamship ' ' Philadelphian ' ' 
to sail for England, notwithstanding the war. 



104 



CHAPTER XVII 
Skunks as Pets 




Semi-Domestic by Nature 

Skunks make unique and interesting pets and many lovers 
of animals find delight in their study. They are extremely 

105 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



healthy and hardy in all climates. The various pet stock 
associations which have done so much for the encouragement 
of the breeding of pet animals such as rabbits, hares, guinea 
pigs and others have lately become interested in the skunk. 
Many of their members have started to breed the skunk. It 
is an animal which can be kept in very small quarters in 
cities or suburbs as it is naturally so cleanly in its habits. 
It is a wonderful animal to study as it is gentle and fond of 
human company and in some respects it can teach the human 
species very good lessons. The skunk has self respect and 
will resent any unseemly constraint of his rights as he under- 
stands them, at first by the mild protest of stamping his feet, 
and finally, as a last resort, by firing upon an agressor in 
self defense if he has not been disarmed. He has patience 
and will tolerate under protest considerable encroachment 
on his right before using violence. He is of an inquisitive 
turn of mind and wishes to understand all that goes on around 
about him. Any new appointments about the place are care- 
fully investigated by him. This will here suffice in the narra- 
tion of his qualities for it is well to leave the lover of animals 
some traits to discover for himself instead of revealing them 
all in advance. One writer has naively remarked that the 
more he saw of people the better he liked skunks. He was 
in some respects a shrewd observer. 

Skunks will breed in very close confinement when made 
very tame as they always are when kept as pets for they 
then receive much attention. They can be handled in the 
arms just like kittens. They are good mousers. They are 
astoundingly beautiful. 

The author favors disarming in the case of skunks kept 
for pets and this must be done if kept in cities as the risk 
of an accident is too great otherwise. It is possible to have 
the skunks very tame though fully armed and no scent ever 
thrown even though familiarly handled by their owners, but 

106 



.TUNE 28. 1014. 
THE SAINT PAUL PIONEER PRESS 



How 'd You Like to Have 
Cute Little Skunk Pet? 




Also Valued for Fur and* 

Rnr\nTnA"rif\r sa IVTmicA-r 



courtesy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press) 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 




108 



SKUNKS AS PETS 






'iiSSMsJ ■* 








alii 

; e s • 
S 8.2 9 


6 
£ 


■S = ir t 


!!; ! 


= 


Sill? 

o 50 : - 


'•6- 

£§21 
* ; 6 -S 


| 


I ill 




2 


si!=? 

3 5 | .-J 


lip 


£ 




1 1» « 


1 


Jl If 


if 


« 1 1 s « s g 


fi^l 


^ 


Jui! 


» \ | i 1 


it 


ety 

m of C 

nhout 


*f ?jj* 


Is! 


jlljfj 

ijllil 


1 :'ii = 


s s 


Sirs.-: 


| e « ; 1 


o£ 




| a !S| 
« I « j a 

". a jj 1 2 

Si:!? 


jj 


JSWKi 


ia|«* 


l! 


"M " * I a ' 


u I " i| 


5 s 


|||!|{ 


o!«;i 


x E 

15 j 


w u I i ! 


So" ill 


z 




«iiiiii«jf ? il Hi fill . J si! 1 h:-f : -:-: = i!ii \\ ;:*u u flfV 



109 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



if the skunk should receive a bad fright, as from a dog, it 
would at once be quite unpleasant for all concerned. 

There is probably no animal that can be removed from the 
wild state and so quickly and so thoroughly domesticated as 
can a skunk, especially if taken young or partly grown. 

The skunks with a large amount of white make the most 
beautiful pets. 

People keeping skunks as pets or breeding them for fancy 
must be governed by the same general principles which apply 
to the commercial breeder, especially as to sanitation and 
vermin. A pet dog or cat would not be permitted to suffer 
from lice or fleas, so why should a pet skunk? Some careless 
breeders have lost their young and on investigation it has been 
found that the mother was suffering from vermin which might 
so easily have been avoided. 

The pet or fancy breeder may experiment in getting the 
second litter in a season for if the first brood comes early and 
is weaned early or given to another skunk or even to a cat 
to nurse and bring up the mother may be bred again a little 
later. This takes more time, and the second litter coming 
toward cold weather requires more attention than the com- 
mercial breeder can give but it gives the fancier an opportunity 
to display his skill. 



110 



CHAPTER XVIII 



A Letter From Canada 

Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada, 

March 22, 1915. 
Mr. F. M. Holbrook, 

Chicago, 111. 
Dear Sir: 

Official records show forty skunk farms in Nova Scotia 
this year. The largest skunk ranch to my knowledge is one 
in which I have a one-quarter interest situated about one mile 
from the town of Truro, N. S. It has an area of six acres 
fenced with sheet iron corrugated and galvanized, also painted 
with heavy metal paint, three feet in the ground and four 
feet above ground. On top of this we have six strands of 
barbed wire to keep dogs and people out. All posts are of 
cedar. We have a barn and cook house and also a three room 
bungalow for the keeper. We aim to keep four hundred 
breeders, but have less than half that number at present as this 
is our first year with the ranch. 

This ranch is known as the Shady Grove Skunk Company, 
Limited, being an incorporated company. There are five 
large skunk farms within five miles of ours having a total 
enclosed area of over fourteen acres. At the present time they 
contain some five hundred breeding stock, mainly star blacks. 

The free range has not been successful in any ranch I 
know of whether here or in the U. S. A. Especially at breed- 
ing time they fight and kill each other and also trample each 
others' young. The mother does not appear to have the same 
instinct to care for her young as when kept in a pen alone 
by herself. We are keeping each female in a separate pen 

111 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



made of one inch mesh, seventeen gauge wire fourteen inches 
high by four feet square, wire top and bottom and sides. 

A small kennel is connected with each pen by a spout. A 
small quantity of gravel is thrown over the bottom of the 
cage so the wire will not hurt their feet. They are given 
feed and water farthest from the kennel so as not to disturb 
the female when having her young, as I find many will eat 
their young if disturbed at all. The advantage I claim for 
this kind of a pen is that when it becomes dirty it can be 
lifted and placed on a clean piece of ground, saving all the 
work of cleaning and washing stationary pens. Another thing 
is the female cannot dig a hole and carry her young in to 
perish as I have seen them do in a stationary pen that did 
not have a carpet of wire over the bottom. 

When many are together in a large range cannibalism is 
the chief drawback to the system of ranching. I know of one 
instance on a ranch near here. Last summer a rancher had 
turned loose some twenty poor grade skunk, mainly males, 
to run loose in a large range some two hundred feet square 
so as to get good fur. He gave them the same kind of food 
as the others he kept in pens. One turned cannibal killing 
thirteen of his mates before the keeper was able to tell which 
skunk was doing the killing. He finally located him and after 
placing him in a separate pen by himself he had no trouble 
with the balance. This same man raised sixty young in pens 
out of a total of sixty-seven born the same year. 

The only remedy I can see is to cut the long teeth off even 
with the others and not to allow old skunk to run with young 
skunk. The worst cannibals I ever saw were animals that got 
nearly all meat diet. If cutting their teeth will not stop them 
from killing each other the only way I see to raise them for 
fur will be to abandon the range idea and keep only ten or 
fifteen skunks in a pen twenty-five feet square or thereabouts 

112 



A LETTER FROM CANADA 



where the keeper will have a better chance to control them and 
find the cannibals. 

We have had no disease of any kind nntil the present year 
or rather fall of 1914 when an epidemic of distemper broke 
out in several ranches. It proved fearfully deadly and there 
seems to be no cure for it. On one ranch only twenty-nine 
skunks remained out of a total of 350. Another ranch had 
229 breeders and in thirty days ' time from start of the disease 
there were only four remaining alive. 

This distemper seemed to originate from some skunks 
which were sold these ranches by an unscrupulous dealer who 
imported a part of his supply of skunks from far south. They 
could not stand the great change in climate and contracted 
distemper which became an epidemic and was equally con- 
tagious to the native skunks as to any of the imported stock. 

I have never yet heard of any distemper among native 
skunks unless they were brought in contact with some skunk 
which had it. 

I have seen a lot of people trying to raise skunks but lost 
most of their young when partly grown from worms. I have 
had trouble in this way myself but have found that by using 
a stock tonic twice a week there will be no trouble with worms. 

Any statement I have made I can back up with all proofs 
you wish in regards to distemper epidemic or size of ranches. 



Yours very truly, 

H. S. CRUIKSHANK. 



113 



CHAPTER XIX 
Exhibiting 

People have a deep rooted passion to excel each other and 
this is the key to real progress. Public competitive exhibitions 
of live stock have done much to encourage the development of 
desirable qualities in various breeds of animals. Cattle, horses, 
sheep, swine, poultry, dogs, cats, guinea-pigs, and even rats 
and mice have been bred in various types, colors and color 
patterns and the highest results exhibited in competition for 
prizes at the great conventions held for various classes of 
animals in America, Europe and other parts of the world. 

Fur farming animals have only in the last few years been 
admitted in definite classes to competition. The author some 
years ago made overtures to the poultry associations, but was 
dismissed by the reply: "Our poultry breeders have just 
about as much use for a skunk as they do for a rattlesnake 
and I don 't believe it would interest them at all to have them 
in a poultry show. " It is quite different now as poultry men 
are glad to give space in the show room to skunks and other 
fur bearers for they are powerful features of attraction and 
swell the gate receipts as the newspapers give them good 
notices and write-ups in their news columns. This is illus- 
trated by the accompanying clippings. 

The credit for the entrance of skunks and other fur bearers 
to standing in the great competitive exhibitions is due to the 
pet stock associations of this country. In December, 1913, the 
National Pet Stock Association of America admitted skunks 
to its premium list and combined its show with that of the 
Chicago Pigeon Club. This won the pigeon people. In Jan- 
uary, 1915, a similar combination was made with the Chicago 

114 



CHICAGO HERALD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 1915. 



SOME WONDERS AT THE PET STOCK SHOW 



Furred and Feathered Marvels to Be Seen at Dexter Amphithe- 
ater Poultry and Animal Exhibition, Which Has 2,000 Entries. 




APYAHCi SP/ilHG STYLES 

W PA7TS/&YS. 
fQ£RMAN C//£(yf£# Q/ANT) 
,4 LBS. ' 



MALE OlSTlNGUISHtl) 
FROM FEMALE BV 
TU6 CURL 60 UP 

TAIL. 



THERE are all kinds of furred 
and feathered wonders at the 
Greater Chicago" Poultry and Pet 
Stock Show in the Dexter Park Am- 
j-hitheater. The "skunkiess sk,unk," 
rejoicing In Its new name of "sachet 
kitten," Is not the only one, although 
a big feature. For instance, there 
Is Hungry Liz, who stands at the 
door of the amphitheater to receive 



Tlsltors. Lis Is the champion hen of 
the United States, with a record of 
2S4 eggs In a, year. There also Is a 
fl*k of blue Muscovy ducks, bril- 
liant in coloring and utterly lacking 
In quacks. George A. Blood of Bfell- 
wood has an exhibit of his famous 
white and black chickens, which 
have a black feather for every wnlte 
one. The rabbits rangs from vest 



pocket size to thirty-pounders, 
among the latter being the "powder 
puffs." There are more than 2,000 
entries, including BOO varieties of 
/owls and pigeons, dogs, cats, rab- 
bits, skunks and other animals. 
There are entries from twenty-eight 
states. The show Is under the aus- 
pices of the Chicago Poultry Breed- 
ers' Association. 



(By courtesy of the Chicago Herald) 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 



Poultry Breeders' Association in the great show held at the 
International Amphitheater of the Union Stock Yards, 
Chicago. 

The judging at the latter show was done in accordance 
with the "Standard of Perfection for Rabbits, Cavies, Mice, 
Rats and Skunks/' which has just been published by the 
N. P. S. A. of A. This represents a great step forward, and 
inasmuch as other pet stock associations are showing like 
interest the competitive exhibition of skunks is now well 
established. 

This standard of perfection for skunks recognizes for the 
purpose of judging in competition three type^, as follows : 

Solid Black (very rare). 

Even Stripes (the wild type is striped). 

Solid White (quite rare). 

Solid Black is the ideal so much sought. To make up the 
100 points the color scores the greatest number if the far is 
completely black (grade AAA), the luster scores next ii the 
guard hairs have good, bright, shiny gloss, the length of fur, 
texture of fur, density of fur, size of skunk ard condition all 
follow with less numbers of points. 

Even Stripes score the same as black excepting the points 
on color are given for a star as round as possible covering the 
top of the head, and for two even stripes one inch wide run- 
ning from the star the whole length of the body and for a 
white tip about three inches long at the end of the tail, these 
markings being clear white without yellow tint and the rest 
solid black. 

Solid White score the same as black if the word white :'s 
substituted throughout for black, and to score the maximum 
points on color the skunk would have to be of the grade DDL\ 

The "Standard of Perfection," with full official text rela- 
tive to points, scoring, etc., can be obtained from the National 

116 



EXHIBITING 



THE CFTTCAOO DATT.Y TRIBUNE 
FRIDAY. JANUARY 15. 1913. 



Two New Pets Seen at Poultry Show 



skunk. It 
!3 so far as 
i exhibition. 



$1 

CI 




other pet whrch attracted much 
lng to Miss Polly Ferreer 

The show, which te the first 
Poultry Breeders' association, wl 



ck show at the International 
Is called tho " sachet 
la concerned, and. according 
s an Ideal household pe-t. A 
the Himalayan rabbit, belong- 

er the direction of tha Chicago 



(By courtesy of the Chicago Daily Tribune) 



117 



SKUNK CULTURE FOR PROFIT 




Prizes Won by the Author for Skunks, 1894 to 1915 
(See also page 14) 



118 



EXHIBITING 



Pet Stock Association of America, the address of the Secretary 
being found in all pet stock magazines. 

Let every earnest breeder of the skunk join and give his 
support to some pet stock association or other similar organiza- 
tion. The dues are low, in most cases about one dollar a year, 
and the benefits of co-operation are great. Let each one also 
subscribe to some pet stock periodical and occasionally send 
his contributions of experience to it for publication and for 
help of his fellow breeders. Let him also advertise his stock 
in such periodicals as to do so will cost him little and the 
returns in sales are remarkable for the magazines circulate 
not only in the United States but in Canada and England as 
well. And by all means let him enter his choice skunks in 
competition on every possible occasion and whether he is able 
to attend the exhibition in person or not his stock will be well 
cared for. All these things help the general cause and by 
helping others each breeder most helps himself. 



no 



Announcements of Breeders 



13ELIEVING that the announcements of 
breeders and those of kindred interests 
would be of mutual benefit to readers and 
breeders, the author dispatched over a 
hundred letters which met with response in 
accordance with the notices which occupy 
the remaining pages of this book. 

In addressing your inquiries to them 
please mention having observed their notice 
in Skunk Culture for Profit. 



120 



FOR SALE AT ALL TIMES 

RED, CROSS AND BLACK 

FOX 

STAR-BLACK AND SHORT-STRIPED 

DEODORIZED SKUNK 



(*% 


1 




». F" : >J 




k 1 


I c 





RANCH 
RAISED 

Mink 

Raccoon 

Marten 

and Elk 



Golden, Silver, 

Mongolian 

and 

Lady Amherst 

Pheasants 



Accredited with being the oldest Fur Stock Rancher in Ohio 



LET ME SUPPLY YOUR NEEDS 

F. J. WILSON 



LEWISBURG 



OHIO 



121 




HIMALAYAN 



HIMALAYAN, HAVANAowo 
and GIANT RABBITS, SKUNKS, 
CARNEAUX PIGEONS and 
WILD DUCKS. 

WM. I. LYON 

WAUKEGAN, ILL. 



\Y/E have for sale choice Northern Raised Black 
Skunks with scent sacs removed. Our Skunks 
have been bred under scientific methods for ten years to 
produce over 75 % black litters and we breed our 
skunks to a great size and fine fur. 

Fine Black Breeders for sale at all times. 

Get your foundation stock or if you want to induce 
new blood in your stock get some of our hardy 
Northern grown Black Skunk. Send for prices. 

ADDRESS 

WOLVERINE FUR FARM CO. 



Q. DEVRIES, Prop. 



ZEELAND, MICH. 



LIVE ANIMAL 




TD A D The best box 
llYrir trap on the 

market today 

Designed by an old experienced trapper, upon true scientific principles. Contains compartment for live 

bait. All working parts inside of trap. The trip action is adjustable to any desired tension. 

CATCH 'EM ALIVE AND MAKE MORE MONEY 

If interested in trapping, our Illustrated Trapper's Guide tells how, giving the first time in print the 

Treasured Secrets of the wisest old trappers in this country. A Dime brings it — it's worth dollars to you. 

TRAPPERS SUPPLY COMPANY, Box F, Oak Park, III. 



122 



HIGHEST GRADE 

—OF— 

STAR BLACK SKUNKS 

— FOR— 

Breeding Purposes 



All Stock 
Guaranteed 

as 
Represented 




AH Ordlrs 

Receive 
Prompt 
Attention 



WRITE FOR PRICES 

CHRISTIAN ROTH 

Box 78 
ALLENSVILLE, PA. 



123 



Skunks for Sale 

f HAVE been studying the skunk for 1 
years and have succeeded in producing 
as good stock as possible. My skunks are 
practically all star black, healthy and in 
good condition. Good star males for sale 
or exchange at all times. 

CHOICE BREEDING STOCK FOR SALE 




W. J. SNOW 

Box 350 ROCKWOOD, TENN. 

White Leghorns 

..of.. 

Heaviest Laying and Hardy Strain 

These are ihe Fowls adopted by the Great 
Commercial Egg Farms of the United States. 

Send your eggs to market all through the winter and command highest prices. 

Everyone appreciates Fresh Eggs 

For Prices on 

SETTINGS -YOUNG STOCK -MATURE STOCK 

ADDRESS 

GLEN ORCHARD 

A. F. JOHNSON, Proprietor 

ST. HELEN, MICHIGAN 

124 * " 



SKUNKS 


That Will Please You 


We are experienced Breeders and 


dealers in STAR BLACK SKUNKS 


All our Stock is Healthy, 


well fed and in the best 


of condition. 


We ship to all parts of the 


United States and Canada 


DO NOT FAIL TO WRITE US 


WHEN BUYING SKUNKS 


REMEMBER 


Pennsylvania Skunks are Famous 


H. Rodenberger & Bro. 


TRUMBAUERSVILLE, PA. 



125 



WISCONSIN VALLEY SKUNKERY 

WE OFFER FINEST BREEDING STOCK 
TO FUR FARMERS 



We wish not only your first order but your continued 
orders which our fair treatment assures. 

Honesty Our Method 

' iimii i n — aaa^ ■ 

If you are stocking your Ranch 
secure your Foundation Stock 
from us. Our Northern Stock 
is Hardy and Well Furred. 

If you have Surplus Stock at any time please let us have 

full description as we can use good stock and 

we will be glad to make you offer. 



ADDRESS ALL INQUIRIES TO 

WISCONSIN VALLEY SKUNKEY 

RHINELANDER, WIS. 



OWNERS: 

F. A. ALEXANDER and THEO. J. BIGELOW 



REFERENCES: 
First National Bank, Merchants State Bank, Rhinelander, Wis. 



126 




*Y3B&fcW? 



LARGEST 
DEALER and BREEDER 

OF 

Star Black Skunks 
in Eastern Canada 



H. S. CRUIKSHANK 



TRURO, NOVA SCOTIA 
CANADA 



Ranch Raised Breeding 
Stock for Sale 



Successful Breeder 

of 

Choice Silver, Black 

and 

Patch Foxes 




mifw 



127 



H>kunfe Bebelopment bureau 



LIVE STOCK DEPARTMENT 



Skunks supplied for Fur Farming, for Zoological Gardens 

and for Pets. The scent sacs are in all cases 

removed so that the Sr\unfas are disarmed. 



Skunks for Fur Farming 

Are select Star Black Skunks, grade A A. The demand 
upon us for this grade has been so great from the United 
States, Canada and Europe that as a rule we will be 
willing to supply only a few pairs to each breeder. 

Skunks for Zoological Gardens 

are usually short or long striped Skunks to show the 
typical markings. 

Skunks for Pets 

are selected for their great beauty. They have as a rule 
considerable white which adds much to their attractiveness. 
They are very reasonable in price and are in great demand. 

'Please address your inquiries for prices on S^unfe to 

g>kunlt ©etolopnunt Bureau 

LIVE STOCK DEPARTMENT 
CHICAGO, ILL. 



128 



is>ktmfe Bebelopment bureau 

SUPPLY DEPARTMENT 



Instruments for Removing Scent Sacs 

Without spilling any scent fluid. 

The full set includes the following: 

1 nickel plated scalpel (knife). 

1 nickel plated tenaculum (hook) . 

1 nickel plated sound (probe). 

1 pair nickel plated special extracting forceps. 

1 pair nickel plated automatic clamping forceps. 

2 pair goggles (worn by beginners as safeguard). 

Price $3.00 Postpaid in the United States, Canada and Europe. 

WIRE FENCING for Skunk ranges, yards and pens. This 
fencing consists of the best hexagonal mesh wire netting, galvanized 
after it is woven so as to last for many years. No. I 7 Gauge, I % 
inch mesh is standard for Skunks. Lowest prices will be quoted on 
request if amount desired is stated. 

CORRUGATED SHEET IRON FOR FENCING in five 

to ten foot lengths. The market price fluctuates and all quotations 
are for prompt acceptance. 

GERMICIDE AND DIP are absolutely necessary for main- 
taining health and sanitary conditions on your ranch and for keeping 
pests and mange from the fur of your Skunks. The call for 
Germicide and Dip has been such that we have arranged to 
supply them to breeders. 

One gallon of Germicide will make 100 gallons of solution for spraying 

your pens and dens. 
One gallon of Dip will make 72 gallons of solution for dipping your Skunks. 

Price $2.70 per case containing one gallon of each. 

'Please address your inquiries and orders for Supplies to 

g)feunk ©etalopment Bureau 

SUPPLY DEPARTMENT CHICAGO, ILL. 

129 





,,*.„• >.,::-.,: 



tfjTO learn about FOX RANCHING for 

^ large profit — write to CANADIAN 
TRADERS LTD, St. John, N. B., Canada. 

^ If you commission us to do so we will build you a 
ranch and stock it for you and show you how to make it 

a success from the start. 

^ We will sell you Foxes of any variety at market prices. 
Our experience has taught us the business. Our producing 
and buying connections are of the best. 

Canadian Traders LYd. 

Royal Bank Building 
SAINT JOHN, N. B. CANADA 



130 



BECKER BROS. & CO. 

Fur Merchants 

beg to assure dealers and trappers that they 

will at all times pay the highest 

market prices for 

--RAW FURS„ 



on an assortment universally regarded as fair and 
liberal in the highest degree. 



Shipments are held separate upon request, being returned 

if so desired, with all transportation charges 

paid. Write for Price List. 



GINSENG LIKEWISE SOLICITED 



CHICAGO NEW YORK 

416-420 No. Dearborn St. 129-133 West 29th St. 



131 



SKUNKS 



of 



HIGHEST GRADE 



FOR 



FUR FARMING 

(DISARMED) 




Y oung 

Plants 

of 

GOLDEN 
SEAL 



I do all kinds of photographic work. Send me your 
negatives for development or for enlargements. 



WRITE FOR PRICES 



w 



RIPLEY COUNTY 
R. R. No. 3 



J. SMITH 

SUNMAN, IND. 



132 




Lone Star Fur Farming Co. 

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL IMPORTERS 
AND EXPORTERS OF 

High Grade Fur Bearers 

SKUNKS, MINK, MARTENS, 

OTTER, BEAVER, FOXES, 

RACCOONS, OPOSSUM, 

=COATI, ETC.= 

OELECT breeders a specialty. No orders too large 
for us to handle. Lowest prices and best grade stock 
obtainable. Twenty years experience in handling wild 
animals. Let us book your orders now. Satisfaction 
guaranteed, correspondence solicited. 



LONE STAR FUR FARMING CO. 

CHARCO, TEXAS. 



133 



Skunk Farm 

Twenty acres fenced — 5 more can be cheaply added. Rabbit 
range of 15 acres adjoining. Will have 20 AA. Skunks and 
20 Striped Pets ready for sale by August 15. Will sell 80 acres 
of land, including skunk farm, rabbit range and stock farm. 
Prices reasonable. 

H. S. CURTIS, FALLS CITY, ALA. 



You recognize these Skunks 

High Grade 
Northern Raised Stock 



Choicest Skunks for sale 
for Fall delivery at reason- 
able prices if ordered early. 

Satisfaction assured in all cases 




WRITE FOR PRICES 

Northwestern Skunk Farm 

ALBERT MARKRUD, Prop. 

WALLACE, SOUTH DAKOTA 

ESTABLISHED I9I5 PUBLISHED MONTHLY 



OTHE SKUNK BULLETINS 

"Hn Bfcvertising paper for tbe Benefit of Sfeunfe Breefcers" 

SUBSCRIPTION 25 -)(" ADVERTISING RATES 

CENTS A YEAR -)(- ON APPLICATION 

H>efiance, ©bio. 

134 



KEEP POSTED 

On the progress of the Pet Stock 
Industry by reading the 



m¥n@mL 




""^"COPYRIGHTED I9TS 



I 



T gives pointers on care and keep- 
ing and tells of the great profits 
derived from the raising and selling 
of pet stock. Also gives full reports 
of awards at the shows and takes up 
every detail of the business. Regular 
subscription price 50c a year. 

SPECIAL OFFER. Send us 10c 
and the names of five people in- 
terested in pet stock and we will send 
you this up-to-date paper for three 
months. Address 

National Pet Stock Fancier 

922 Advertising Bldg. Chicago 



135 



®rue pue loft anb imtd) 

WM. E. TAYLOR, Proprietor 

3865 LOWELL BOULEVARD, :: DENVER, COLO. 

SKUNKS, SKUNKS, SKUNKS 

FLEMISH & HIMALAYAN RABBITS 

ABYSSINIAN & DUTCH MARKED CAVIES 

RHODE ISLAND RED & ANCONA CHICKENS 

BLUE BARRED HOMER PIGEONS 

REGISTERED STOCK 

Satisfaction Guaranteed Always 

WESTERN SECRETARY NATIONAL PET STOCK ASS'N 
REGISTER YOUR STOCK WITH US. 



FINE 

STAR SCENTLESS SKUNK 

LOWEST PRICES 

FOR SALE 

I have the oldest successful Skunk Farm in Minnesota. 

I Have shipped to and hold satisfied customers all over the U. S. 

NORTH WESTERN SKUNK 

Are noted for their Health and Beauty. 
ALL STOCK GUARANTEED 

Hawkins Fur (y Poultry Farms 

W. CLYDE HAWKINS, Owner 

Box 52 LANCASTER, MINN. 

136 



LIVE SKUNKS 

OF 

Highest Star Black Grade 

(Bodies Black — White on Head and Tail only) 



ORDER 


life 


It will then 


YOUR 




grow up and 


STOCK 


"^JWKb^ -*• 


be accustomed 


SHIPPED 


m Ks^ 


u to your 
jW Ranch and 


as soon 


^W^pSHj 


P& Best Results 


as weaned. 


'''&*'*xzdsL?*> 


Obtained. 




^ mm 





Let me quote you on your requirements 
at once. 

SHIPMENTS PROMPTLY MADE 



ADDRESS 

W. A. SCHMIDT 

ST. JOHN'S PARK, - - FLORIDA 



137 



Rose-Hill Skunk Ranch 

We will supply for shipment between 
Nov. 15 and Mar. 15 Choicest Skunks in 

All Grades Desired 

Place your orders early in Summer to secure finest 
choice as all orders are filled in order received. 

If you need breeding stock or will need it later, 
write at once for quotation. Address 

Rose -Hill Skunk Ranch 

R. E. bausman, Prop. McCune, Kansas 



THE PET STOCK WORLD 

"For More Publicity to Pet Stock" 

America's Leading Pet Stock Magazine 

No matter what your pet, it will be found here : Rabbits, Cavies, 
Bantams, Mice, Rats, Cats, Pheasants, Gold and Tropical Fishes. 

6 numbers 25c — 50c a Year; 

With a copy of 

The Cavy — Our Fancy Guinea Pig, 65c. 



PET STOCK WORLD 

Station O. BALTIMORE, MD. 

(Mention this book when subscribing) 

138 



THE NATIONAL PiT STOCK MAGAZINE 



.f^\ss 




WHITE OAKS 



NEW MEXICO 



i 



Don't 




Waste your time, money 
and patience with inad- 
equate knowledge and in- 
ferior stock. Get a copy of 



DOMESTIC PETS 

The Oldest, Biggest and Best Pet Stock Magazine in America. 
A storehouse of practical information of Poultry, Pigeons, 
Rabbits, Cavies, Caged Birds and 

Fur Bearing Animals 

It contains more valuable information of Pet Stock than any publication in 
America, and it's only 10c a copy or 50c a year. Published monthly. 

DOMESTIC PETS 

WHITE OAKS : : NEW MEXICO 



139 



LONE STAR 
FUR FARMING CO. 




Y^HOLESALE and Retail Dealers in Im- 
ported and Native Live, Wild and Tame 
Fur Bearers of all kinds. 

Pets, Poultry, Reptiles, Turtles, 
Fishes, Birds and Aquatic Plants. 
Zoological and Taxidermist 
specimens a specialty. 

(§ We can supply your needs in our line on short 
notice. Better values cannot be obtained elsewhere. 
Full value and Honest treatment guaranteed. 

Send 4 cents in stamps for latest Catalog and Price List. 

LONE STAR FUR FARMING CO. 

CHARCO, TEXAS. 



140 



BREEDER'S MEMORANDA 



141 



BREEDER'S MEMORANDA 



14: 



